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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to foster next generation of entrepreneurs

Announcement posted by Duke of Edinburgh Awards 14 May 2015

Competition gives participants opportunity to turn business ideas into reality

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Australia -Victoria (Duke of Ed Vic) in conjunction with BIGthink! Business Booster has today announced a new competition aimed at fostering young Australians’ entrepreneurial skills and helping them to bring their business visions to life. The Young Business Hustler 2015 will give two young participants the opportunity to turn their business idea into a reality through the BIGthink! Baby Booster, an intensive 12 month growth program for early stage businesses valued at $12,870 each.

Anoushka Gungadin, CEO Duke of Ed Vic, said that the initiative, motivation, passion and persistence shown by all Awardees are also all the key traits of a successful entrepreneur.

“In just over 50 years, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has encouraged more than 700,000 young Australians to push their personal boundaries, become more engaged with their community, recognise their potential, make a difference through the program and emerge as young leaders,” said Ms Gungadin.

“With entrepreneurship education in high schools lagging behind Gen Z’s growing desires to start their own businesses, BIGthink! Business Booster has donated two prizes to further assist young people in developing their entrepreneurial skills and experience – creating the Young Business Hustler Award.”

Ms Gungadin explains that Duke of Ed Vic recognises that a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem is a key solution to youth unemployment and has obtained the full backing of Andrew Douglas, Chair and the Board of Duke of Ed Vic for this competition.

From 15 June to 13 July 2015, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants between 18-25 years old will have the opportunity to apply by pitching their existing business or business idea. A panel of expert entrepreneurs will select shortlist of applicants to present their submissions, with two winners receiving a customised 12 month BIGthink! Baby Booster Program in Melbourne.

John Di Natale, Founder and MD of BIGthink! Business Booster points to a 2014 survey by Millennial Branding, which found that 72 per cent of US high school students and 64% of college students wished to start their own business someday.

“This figure contrasts to the most recent Australian Census data, showing that just 5% of business owners nationally are aged between 20-34,” said Mr Di Natale.

“Syllabuses across Australia are heavily geared to preparing students for existing jobs rather than preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. Given the rate of technological change and the critical role of small businesses in the economy, we see fostering the entrepreneurial skills of passionate, motivated young people such as those participating in the Duke of Ed Awards as hugely important. My team of specialists, entrepreneurs and BIGthink!-ers look forward to working closely with these young people to bring their business dreams to life.”

For more information or to register for The Young Business Hustler 2015, visit www.youngbusinesshustler.com. Instructions, tips and more will be sent out ahead of application date opening.

For more information on The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Australia - Victoria go to: www.dukeofedvic.org.au

For more information about BIGthink! Business Booster go to: www.bigthinkbusinessbooster.com

-ENDS-

About The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been dedicated to the personal development of young people from all backgrounds since it began in the UK in 1956. Currently present in more than 140 countries and reaching more than 8 million young people over the last 50 years, Duke of Ed has become the world’s leading youth achievement award.

With a history in Australia spanning 50 years, every day over 33,000 young Australians are actively engaged in The Duke of Ed and are supported by a network of around 100,000 adult mentors. In addition to the well-known schools program, The Duke of Ed specifically targets disadvantaged youth and young indigenous Australians, with a track record of improving school attendance rates and work participation.

About BIGthink! Business Booster

BIGthink! Business Booster challenges the typical business approach of aiming for 5 or 10% growth and instead, asks business owners: What if you aimed for business growth of 1000%? BIGthink! Business Booster helps business owners stretch their thinking, aim high and achieve their BIGthink! goals. This is not a seminar program or webinar. BIGthink! Business Booster sees that most business owners struggle to implement the learnings from these into their business. This is why the program focuses heavily on the practical implementation aspect with clients, helping them Get Shit Done. The things that really drive business growth and entrepreneurial success.

 

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