Minster students launch enterprise success

THIS year’s Minster School Young Enterprise Team has launched into the programme with enthusiasm, teamwork, and a strong early presence in both the school and the local community.

For those who may not know, Young Enterprise is a national initiative that gives students the chance to create and run their own company over the course of an academic year. Teams take on everything from market research and branding, to finance, sales, and public presentation. It’s a hands-on way for young people to gain real business skills… and occasionally discover that coming up with product ideas is, in fact, harder than it looks.

The team was selected after a competitive interview process in late September. Applicants were asked about what the programme meant to them, what role they would most like to do, and how they could contribute to running a successful company. By the end, we had a committed team, ready to take on the challenge.

Our first task was to raise the initial funds required to enter the competition. In the week after October half-term, we held a school-wide bake sale, which proved to be extremely successful. Students and staff alike stopped by for brownies, cookies, cakes, and donuts, and the strong turnout meant that we comfortably secured the funds needed to officially register our Young Enterprise company.

Most recently, we took part in Southwell’s Late-Night Shopping, running a stall to raise additional money that will go towards developing our final product in the new year (stay tuned…). It was a brilliant opportunity for the team to experience customer interaction, practice selling, and build confidence – as well as learn the valuable lesson that outdoor stalls in chilly late November are not for the faint-hearted! The community response was warm and encouraging, and the evening gave us a solid financial and practical foundation for the months ahead.

With our fundraising phase mostly complete, the team is now turning its attention to designing and creating our final product. We are excited for the next stage of the journey, and we look forward to sharing more with the community as our project develops. Stay tuned on our TikTok and Instagram, with the username @minsterye, and on Facebook – simply search for us.

Charlie Briggs, Co-Head of Marketing