Enterprising Gayton - 1998

by Abbas Lalljee, 10B

Young Enterprise is an international programme for 14-19 year olds in which they form a company and run it for a year in order to understand how a business really operates.  They have to design, develop, produce and market a product or service; sell shares in order to raise capital; open a bank account and appoint a board of directors.  Apart from gaining an insight into the business world, they develop various other skills like teamwork, problem solving, self-confidence and better communications skills.  At the end of the programme, a dividend is paid to the shareholders, VAT is paid, the bank account closed and any remaining profit shared among the directors.  The directors also get the opportunity to sit an exam which is recognised by employers and is equivalent to 2 GCSEs (A-C).

This year Gayton entered its first Young Enterprise company into the programme.  At their interim report presentation recently held at the Civic Centre, they received a plaque to commemorate the start of, hopefully, many more Young Enterprise companies from Gayton.  The plaque is now outside reception.   The business, called Stemma Enterprises, is run by a group of Year 10 students, who are as follows:

Abbas Lalljee	Managing Director
Girish Patel	Company Secretary
Michael Franklin	Finance Director
Halim Ahmed	Deputy Finance Director
Usman Zia	Marketing Director
Aqib Khan	Sales Director
Elliot Phillips	Operations Director
Veeral Vadgama	Personnel Director

The name Stemma was chosen from the school motto.  Stemma means birth, and this was the birth of a new company, which like a newly born plant would mature and grow into a successful business.  The Young Enterprise project at Gayton is supported by a link teacher, Mr. Bridges, and by two advisors from industry, Mr. Trevor Seally from Racal Acoustics, and Mr. Malk Saint from Kodak.

At present the company is selling various greetings cards and is developing new products.  At Christmas a large number of cards were sold and recently Valentine's cards were for sale.  The company attended a training course held at Hatch End and a Management Conference at Wembley Arena.

Sales are going considerably well, with the business currently in negotiations phase of a deal for approximately 4,500 cards.  Stemma Enterprises firmly believe in customer satisfaction and good quality cards.  Cards and envelopes range from 35p to 45p and cards can be personalised to suit client requirements.  Each card is individually checked and delivered within a week of placing an order.  For further information please contact one of the company. 

Source:  The Newsflash, - Gayton High School newsletter Spring 1998