Young Enterprise is a unique Business/Education partnership which offers young people the opportunity to form and run their own companies while still in school. Established in the United Kingdom some thirty years ago, Young Enterprise now boasts more than 30,000 students involved in more than 2,000 companies, according to Institute of Directors executive committee member Mr.

Ken Spurling. The programme provides an exciting and imaginative way for developing enterprise and personal skills, through practical vocational training in business awareness. And it was recently taken on in Bermuda by the Area Board for a sub committee of the Institute of Directors, said Mr.

Spurling, who is the chairman. The Area Board, which has good representation from the business community as well as educators, ran four pilot projects in Bermuda's private schools last year. "They were very successful,'' said Mr.

Spurling. Impressed by the programme, The Ministry of Education asked the Area Board to introduce it into government secondary schools. And today there are 12 Young Enterprise companies at ten schools. "Berkeley Institute and Warwick Academy each have two companies because of the high student demand,'' noted Mr. Spurling. Participants in the programme gain hands-on experience of how a company operates. They develop their business skills, the ability to communicate, to think and solve problems, to set and achieve goals and to work as a team. Students also identify creative personal and previously unrecognised skills, develop their sense of responsibility and improve decision making and self confidence, according to the UK Young Enterprise Learning by Doing circular. Students involved in the programme decide on a product or service and form a company which they name, said Mr. Spurling.

"They are shareholders and directors of the company. And they design, produce and market specific products.'' Players elect a managing director, company secretary, personnel director, production director, sales director and a financial director to operate the company. And the remaining students serve as company directors. The schools and teachers involved act as facilitators to the ten to 20 students, who run each company. Every company has at least two volunteer advisors from the business community who meet with students weekly at their board meetings. "There are presently 45 advisors,'' said Mr.

Spurling, adding that business community volunteers have been very willing to help with the programme. The students, who are advised by the volunteers, must buy shares in their company, noted Mr. Spurling. "They invest between $2.50 and $5 in the company. And they must sell shares to other people in order to capitalise. Then they use the capital to buy materials in which to produce their products,'' he said. Examples of goods produced include tie-dyed boxer shorts and t-shirts, hair scrunchies, candles and jewellery. The Area Board set up a capital limit of $500 for each company, all of which must pay the Board a registration fee of $75. Company directors held a trade fair in the beginning of December last year to sell their wares. "All 12 companies set up a stand in which to do business,'' said Mr. Spurling, adding that it was very successful. "One of Warwick Academy's companies, Unity Enterprises won the Institute of Directors cup for the best stand. And Saltus Grammar School's Conquest won a prize for the most innovative product -- tie-dyed boxer shorts.'' The Young Enterprise Learning by Doing leaflet said the programme acts as a catalyst in developing effective links between Educational establishments and the world of Business. Founded on the practical experience of supporting a Young Enterprise company, these partnerships offer many other Enterprising approach to bridging gap is a proactive approach to bridging the gap between business and education.

"Students are surprised that business people are willing to come out and talk to them,'' he added. "And they're delighted when they find out they are actually running their own company -- volunteers from the business community are only there to advise. "Students have never had the opportunity to discuss business matters with business people and they're definitely taking advantage of the opportunity,'' he said, adding that the Board hopes to expand the programme next year. PHOTO YOUNG ENTERPRISERS -- (from left) director of student company Conquest Miss Fiona Holmes and managing director Miss Megan Spurling won a prize for the most innovative wares. NETTING A PROFIT -- Warwick Academy company Unity Enterprises won the Institute of Directors cup for the best stand at the trade fair in December last year. Managing director Mr. Joshua Samuels (second from right) is pictured with company shareholders.