Students on a winning streak
West Coast students from their self-led Trees for Change business, part of the Trees Māwhera project, have been on a winning streak since entering the Young Enterprise Scheme. Photo: Supplied.
Ten students from the West Coast, who developed their own nursery, Trees for Change, are on a winning streak as they participate in the Young Enterprise Scheme Competition.
The team recently commercialised their nursery, which also means they can sell native ecosourced plants as well as continue to supply plants for planting projects. Given their success, they decided to enter the Young Enterprise Scheme.
“We were already doing all this work so we had a discussion, and all agreed we should make it into a business,” Morgan Burrows, a second-year student from Greymouth High School says. The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme is an opportunity for students to unleash their inner entrepreneur and experience how to set up and run a real business.
“Everyone in the team felt if we entered the Young Enterprise Scheme, we would have more opportunities to grow the business and have a great learning experience at the same time,” says Delaney Black, a student from Greymouth High School. Finn Mitchell, also from Greymouth High School adds: “We have an opportunity to develop more and get our name out there and be more visible. It’s also really good for us to all push ourselves outside of our comfort zone.”
Recently, they won the Young Enterprise Scheme West Coast Regional Finals which means that they will be heading to Wellington this month with the hopes of winning the national competition. They have also won a total of seven awards through the
Young Enterprise Scheme. Continuing their winning streak, the group has picked up three regional excellence awards for: The Development West Coast Excellence in Innovation, The West Coast Trades Academy Best Community Focused Business Award, and The Papa Taiao Excellence in Regenerative Enterprise Award.
“We had to pitch what our idea and company is, which involved memorising a script and presenting it to other people which was a big task. The group had entrusted us to do this and represent them, so it was nerve-wracking,” Morgan says. All involved say that the experience so far has taught them leadership, writing, and communication skills as well as how to contribute individually and work as a team.
The group is busy preparing for the finals which will involve them refining their pitch, preparing marketing materials, as well as the mammoth task of completing fundraising to get their whole team up to the event in Wellington.
To check out their progress follow them on Instagram and Facebook @treesforchangenz.