The future of work is changing faster now than ever before. With the latest reports finding that Generation Z are likely to change careers every seven years, it is essential we empower our students with 21st-century, transferable skills to succeed in the evolving job market.
As Generation Z grapples with the challenge of gaining experience, developing skills, and seeking alternative income sources, a surge of young entrepreneurs has emerged. Young people are now leveraging platforms such as e-commerce, social media, and local markets to launch small businesses. For many, these ventures started as side hustles, providing a unique avenue for skill development, financial independence and future readiness.
As a result of these shifts in the workforce, the Young Business Leaders Program, an initiative by the Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce (BYCC) was launched in 2021 in partnership with BOP Industries. Since its inception, the program has successfully engaged more than 150 students from the Beenleigh Yatala region and as a result, has seen the development of over 70 unique businesses brought to life.
The program, established as an inter-school collaboration, commences at the beginning of Term 2 with an engaging hackathon event. This event serves as a launchpad, bringing together students from Canterbury College, Trinity College, Rivermount College, Windaroo Valley State High and Livingstone Christian College to form teams and ideate initial business ideas. Students remain actively involved in the program by attending weekly after-school virtual workshops. These workshops offer mentorship, skill-building sessions, and networking opportunities, empowering young entrepreneurs to navigate the business world. Throughout the program, students receive experienced mentorship from a team of BOP Industries facilitators as they dive into topics including branding, marketing, pricing, customer personas, pitching, business management, product viability, and more.
Generous sponsors, including Bendigo Bank, Quota Beenleigh, Rotary Club of Beenleigh, Logan City Council, and Mr Bert van Manen MP, have played a significant role in providing initial seed funding to the young entrepreneurs. Their financial support not only supports the purchase of initial prototypes for the student businesses but also fosters an understanding of sourcing and finding products. Additionally, it teaches essential business skills, including financial literacy, understanding market demand, and formulating effective pricing strategies.
The program concludes with a breakfast showcase at the end of the term, allowing students to present their business prototypes to Senior members of the BYCC, parents, and staff. During this event, top-performing teams are awarded prizes, including additional seed funding to kickstart their businesses. Previous winners include The Brass Baker ,Simply My Skin and Plan A Education.
The BYCC Young Business Leaders program is a major highlight of the year for the BOP Industries team, and we enjoy establishing strong relationships with new students each year as they embark on their entrepreneurship journey.
If you are interested in bringing a Young Business Leaders program to your school community, get in touch by sending us an email at info@bopindustries.com.