Business acumen acquired early

NOOSA District State High School (NDSHS) is gearing up to host Australian Business Week for the 12th straight year, and life is about to get very interesting for many Year 11 students.
Australian Business Week (ABW) offers students the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to run a company.
In an exciting one-week intensive program, students experience what it is like to run a multi-million dollar company and make decisions which have real outcomes.
ABW co-ordinator Alison Rexa says each team has to manage their own multi-million dollar business.
“This year students will be running a Consumer Electronics Retail store, and with the help of a business mentor will discover the variety of skills needed to be part of a successful business in the 21st century,” she said.
“Through the week, students in teams of 14-15 students will perform tasks having formed and named a company, with each student assigned a role. They will then review an ABW manual covering the key business areas, make decisions about price, product, their target market, staffing and training. This years’ 15 teams must also develop a marketing strategy and host a trade display complete with promotional material and produce a 30 second commercial featuring their business.
“Finally, each team will prepare a written company report, explaining decisions made and the outcomes and the impact on their company’s performance and finally, deliver an oral presentation to an audience of business people, teachers, students and parents. It makes for a full week, but will leave each participant with some valuable skills and the courage to make a difference in their chosen field,” she added.
Without the support of parents, students and teachers, ABW simply wouldn’t be the success it has become, but it’s the support from local businesses that has seen the program develop in recent years.
One such business is the Cooroy Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank. Having committed to sponsoring ABW for another year, branch manager Geoff Edwards said the Community Bank was looking forward to providing mentoring support to go along with its financial assistance.
“Assisting in the mentoring process during ABW is all about giving the students help where they need it, but it’s mostly about watching the groups apply their great ideas with their endless energies and talents. One of our Community Bank board directors, Fred Broomhall will also be on hand to assist during the week of mentoring,” Geoff said.
“I encourage any business owner who hasn’t been to ABW to come along as some of these kids are going to make great employees for some of the coast’s top businesses in years to come,” Geoff added.
The ABW program will conclude with an Awards Ceremony at NDSHS to be held on Thursday 25 June from 7pm.
Trade displays will be open in the main hall from 6.30pm for families to view the efforts of our students.
If you would like to know more about ABW or how you can support the future of the program, contact the ABW program co-ordinator Alison Rexa at NDSHS on 5472 2234.