Investing in Manurewa students being involved in the Young Enterprise Scheme is paying off.
Students learn through hands-on experiences, gaining life and business skills, and every dollar Manurewa Local Board spends supporting the scheme, delivers $5.80 in benefits.
The figure comes from a GoodMeasure Report provided by ImpactLab – founded by former Prime Minister Bill English to measure social change and positive outcomes, so that charities and social service providers can be sure they are spending wisely.
More than 120 students from within the board’s area – 59 from Alfriston College and 64 from Manurewa High School – are taking part in the Young Enterprise Scheme.
Manurewa Local Board chair Glenn Murphy says the numbers participating across the city have increased steadily over the last five years, with just under 1800 now taking part.
“We are committed to supporting rangatahi to realise their potential, but it is public money and we are accountable for it, so having research that proves the good the scheme is doing is welcome.
“The Young Enterprise Scheme is more than playing at business. It inspires our young people to discover their potential in business and life, something we as a board certainly believe is worth supporting.”
English says his time in Parliament taught him that social services do a good job of bringing positive change to individuals and communities.
“Social service workers can see the positive impacts children thriving, families united, jobseekers in new roles and people empowered to change their life courses.
“ImpactLab can help groups do more by finding ways to make sure their results are measurable and that they can make good decisions.”
Social value is the impact in dollar terms a programme achieves for participants over their lifetimes. It is measured in in terms of both positive benefits such as increased
Income, and avoided costs to government.
Murphy says Young Enterprise enables students to develop an understanding of business and financial concepts, and to apply them in the real world.
“It exists to develop their business capabilities and provide them with the tools to become effective in business, to help develop a more prosperous New Zealand. We can’t have enough enthusiastic young people with an eye to becoming our next entrepreneurs.”
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