Yomping the Nations 2007, a fun and fast-paced national competition for students - similar to BBCs Dragons Den and the Apprentice but not quite so scary - launched at Queen Mary University, London, on Monday 5 February. YTN 07 encourages the employability skills, commercial awareness and entrepreneurial flair that graduate recruiters are seeking.
Cambridge-based business s strategy consultants, The Working Knowledge Group (http://www.twkg.met), devised YTN based around a business training tool developed in partnership with Cambridge University. YTN demonstrates the vital steps required to transform a business idea into a focused and profitable enterprise.
During each YTN event, students are submerged in an environment that simulates the world of work. Alongside a group of ten national and local business experts experienced in finance, HR, operations, strategy and marketing, students adopt management roles in a series of short workshops designed to develop competencies such as decision making, strategic planning, commercial awareness and communication skills to equip them to thrive in any business situation. Each team of students taking part has to develop, plan and present a business strategy for a business scenario given to them on the day.
Part of the day is spent using the Yomp strategy tool to develop a comprehensive plan to grow each business, followed by business expert meetings and, finally, pitching the strategy to a panel of judges. The students and external business experts are fully engaged in the process and many mutually beneficial relationships between businesses and universities were forged during YTN 06.
Spokesman James Lott, serial entrepreneur and director of the Working Knowledge Group, says: In a survey published in late January, 43% of employers polled by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) said they had unfilled graduate vacancies, against less than a third in 2005. According to the AGR, the underlying reason is that íemployers feel there is an inadequate supply of applicants of sufficient calibreí.
He adds: For students to develop the skills required by todays dynamic workplace before graduation, it is vital for business to be involved in their education. The Working Knowledge Group recognise this. Our partnership with UK universities through YTN provides the conditions to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset amongst graduates to to the benefit of the economy.
Paul Blackmore, director of the Centre for Employability, Enterprise and Careers at Lancaster University, says: YTN is an excellent way to boost the commercial awareness, business language and employability skills of students from all disciplines and forms a major part of our award winning Certificate in Enterprise and Commercial Awareness.
The Grand Final - an exhilarating two-day event on 19 and 20 March, 2007, at Manchester Metropolitan University - will see the winning team walk away with 3,500 cash.
National Enterprise Competition Increases Employability of Graduates
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