A key responsibility for the board of YES Lothian is to provide training that will be useful and accessible. Over the past year we have been reviewing and building on what was already in place as well as listening to the feedback we have received from those who have participated and we are now ready to launch the training to support the companies that will be formed in the next few weeks.

We know that attending the training sessions is beneficial to the participants in the Company programme and because we want to encourage every one of those participants to do their best in and for their Company from 2011/2012 points will be awarded for attendance at the training events which will contribute to the final score for the awards in March 2012.

To help you with the planning that will be needed to attend,  the dates and content of each training session is outlined below.

We would like to maximise the amount of time we have at these sessions without having students and teachers having to stay out much later than they have in the past so we will now ask you to turn up at 5.30pm for a prompt 5.45pm start. The sessions will run on until 7.45pm. These small adjustments to the timing will give us a valuable extra 30 minutes to work with.

As before we would love to see Link Teachers and Business Advisors along too.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. And we are always keen to hear your suggestions on what we could add or change.

Watch out also for regular information, links and advice on our Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Enterprise-Scotland-Lothian-Board/143500022349417

Workshop 1  -  Monday 12 September 2011 – Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD.

Purpose – to help highlight the issues and challenges that will arise during the programme

In this workshop we will cover:

• How to choose a product or service
• What to consider when creating your team and filling the roles
• The importance of planning

This session will take the form of a game where participants will be asked to work through situations that they are likely to encounter. Some companies may already have an idea of their product for the year but they will still benefit from the content of this workshop.

Link Teachers and Business Advisors will also get the chance to practice the skills of their roles throughout the workshop

Workshop 2 – Monday 31 October 2011 – Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD.

Purpose -  to prepare for the Trade ( Christmas) Fair

In this workshop we will cover:

• How to create an impressive stand
• Engaging with your customers to get them to buy
• Marketing the Trade Fair itself to ensure maximum number of visitors

The Trade Fair – traditionally held early in December – comes at a key point in the Company Programme timetable and gives each Company the chance to showcase their product or service to a wide market.

Workshop 3 – Monday 16 January 2012 – Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD.

Purpose – to prepare for the final interviews and the Awards Night

In this workshop we will cover

• How to write an impressive final report
• Making a great Awards Night Presentation
• Impressive interview techniques

The final stages of the Company programme give company members the chance to impress the judges by telling the story of what they did, what they learned and  reporting on what they sold and presenting their final accounts.