YE Trust | History

History of the Trust

1975	In 1975 the Chambers of Commerce established an economic education programme and underwent funding. The first three tasks were: to establish a fact base, to expose the dangers of double-digit inflation and to demonstrate the benefits of competitive enterprise Over several years a professionally interpreted survey of the health of business and a commentary was published. At the same time an annual Heylen poll was commissioned which sought public opinion about the image of business and the purpose and value of profit.
1978	Under the individual supervision and funding of Chambers of Commerce, Enterprise New Zealand launched the precursor to the Young Enterprise schemes in 147 schools nationwide.
1980's	Relations with 'education' were improving steadily. On the initiative and with the involvement of Enterprise New Zealand the first mutually acceptable Economic Syllabus for forms 3 to 7 was published following full testing and trials in schools.
1980	Air New Zealand Annual Awards for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship were established. As a result the two concepts of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship were increasingly recognised.
1981	The Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) was launched in Palmerston North with encouraging growth in numbers in its early years.
1980 - 83	Enterprise New Zealand accepted the challenge to produce a united voice from the private sector. Around 250 registrants attended the international Assemblies of Business in 1980 and again in 1983. A united, signed and publicly endorsed communique emerged, entitled "Towards Economic Growth" and "The Way Ahead" from representatives of every aspect of the private sector.
1986	Enterprise New Zealand Trust was formed in 1986 for several reasons, the most valuable of which may have been the desire to have broad involvement within the public and private sector. After a short time the Chambers of Commerce relinquished their majority control of the new trust.
1990's	During this period, the Trust, as we see it today, developed under the stewardship of Ken Baker, Executive Director. He believed every student should experience enterprise education while at school. Additional programmes were developed for junior secondary and intermediate and primary students. Financial Literacy also became a focus for the Trust. International links with organisations working in similar areas were made, providing inspiration and benchmarking opportunities and assisting the Trust to become a world leader in enterprise education. The Fletcher Trust became a foundation supporter of the Young Enterprise Scheme.
2000's	Numbers of students continued to grow rapidly, particularly primary aged students involved in PrEP. The Ministry of Education supported the professional development of primary teachers in enterprise education. The Lion Foundation undertook to support the Young Enterprise Scheme while the Fletcher Trust became the major supporter of the Primary Enterprise Programme (PrEP). In addition, BP has been a long time supporter of the Enterprise Studies Programme (ESP).
In the mid 2000's	Enterprise and financial education finally came to be recognised in the New Zealand National Curriculum. At the same time they enjoy increased recognition as important learning areas by a wide spectrum of the community. This has resulted in an expanding Enterprise New Zealand Trust community of interest.
2009	Enterprise New Zealand Trust officially changed its name to Young Enterprise Trust. The Trust became the New Zealand representative of Junior Achievement Worldwide.

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