What is the YAA Business Skills Program?
The YAA Business Skills Program is a cross-disciplinary program which introduces students to skills and knowledge that underpin real-world commercial success. Students experience all stages of a concentrated business cycle, taking responsibility for all essential business processes including:
- Selling shares to raise capital
- Establishing the company with an organisational structure modelled on successful long term enterprises
- Electing an executive management team
- Researching, designing and producing goods or services to fill a profitable market niche in the community
- Planning and implementing quality systems in the key management areas of finance, manufacturing, human resources and marketing
- Identifying e-commerce opportunities for the business concept and developing a business website
- Preparing a business plan and an annual report
- Liquidating and paying dividends to shareholders at the end of the program.
Throughout the program students tackle typical issues and challenges which confront commercial operations and develop enterprise skills such as decision making, negotiating, risk taking, creativity, communication and teamwork.
Who is involved?
YAA Business Skills programs operate throughout Australia in regional, rural and urban locations. The program brings together senior secondary and tertiary students with advisors from business and industry. The flexibility of the program extends business skills opportunities to people with disabilities, youth at risk, indigenous groups and youth not in full-time study or employment.