Member Article

Enterprise competition aims to help employ graduates

Yomping the Nations 2007, a national entrepreneurship competition for students, launched at Queen Mary University, London, on Monday this week. YTN 07 encourages the employability skills, commercial awareness and entrepreneurial flair that graduate recruiters are reportedly seeking.

During each YTN event, students are immersed in an environment that simulates the world of work. Alongside a group of national and local business experts, students adopt management roles in a series of short workshops designed to develop competencies such as decision making, strategic planning, commercial awareness and communication skills. Each team of students taking part has to develop, plan and present a business strategy for a business scenario given to them on the day. Part of the day is spent using the Yomp strategy tool to develop a comprehensive plan to grow each business, followed by business expert meetings and, finally, pitching the strategy to a panel of judges.

James Lott, serial entrepreneur and director of the Working Knowledge Group, said: “In a survey published in late January, 43% of employers polled by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) said they had unfilled graduate vacancies, against less than a third in 2005. According to the AGR, the underlying reason is that ‘employers feel there is an inadequate supply of applicants of sufficient calibre’. “For students to develop the skills required by today’s dynamic workplace before graduation, it is vital for business to be involved in their education.”

The Grand Final, a two-day event on 19 and 20 March, 2007, at Manchester Metropolitan University, will see the winning team walk away with £3,500 cash. More information about Yomping the Nations 2007 can be found at www.ytn07.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .