Students participating in the “Company Programme” with Young Enterprise Berkshire visited our UK HQ this week. We offered the sixth-form start-up founders the opportunity to pitch their stalls in our lobby. It was the first time that Young Enterprise Berkshire had been invited into the offices of a major corporate in the UK.
Young Enterprise Manager, Jenny Scully said: “It’s been a great experience for the students who tend to sell in local shopping centres and school halls. To gain first-hand experience of O2‘s office environment as well as sell to the 2000 staff that work here has been a great opportunity for them…Our schemes are increasingly important as there are fewer Saturday and holiday jobs available at the moment. We value your support.”
Youth unemployment remains unsettlingly high – at 974,000 according to updated figures released by the ONS this week. We are committed to helping young people develop their digital and business skills.
Our Think Big programme works with Young Enterprise at a national level. Together throughout 2013 we will invite over 2,000 young people to digital and entrepreneurial skills days as part of Telefonica Europe’s commitment to up-skill and inspire 50,000 young people by 2015.
The mini-companies and products on display included custom t-shirts designs by E.G. Enterprise (Kendrick School, Reading) and Flaws (Ranelagh, Bracknell), up-cycled scented candle maker’s Fiamma (Marist School, Ascot) and a wisdom-packed guide by Student Directory (Marist School, Ascot).
Young Enterprise is the United Kingdom’s largest business and enterprise education charity. Every year it helps 225,000 young people learn about business and the world of work in 5,000 schools, colleges and universities under the guidance of volunteers from 3,500 companies.
Its flagship Company Programme is open to students aged between 15 and 19. Under the guidance of business volunteers, students set up their own businesses and market products or services for an academic year.
press enquiries
press enquiries