High school students from around the region were this week given an insight into the world of business management as part of the ECOMAN program.
Held at Ulton Bundaberg, students from Shalom College, St Luke’s Anglican College, Bundaberg State High School, North Bundaberg State High School and Kepnock State High School participated in a three-day-workshop.
Ulton's Darryl Corpe said the experience was one that would give students an idea of how to run a business and what challenges were faced by many and overcome by many.
“Our vision for this initiative is to inspire and motivate local Year 10 and 11 students to consider a career in business, leading to the creation of future entrepreneurs, business owners or even future Ulton talent,” he said.
“Last year was the first time we hosted ECOMAN and it was a huge success.
“It was wonderful to be part of an event that generated so much enthusiasm from the students.”
The three-day-workshop ran students through the ins and outs of managing a “real” business through four phases of the business cycle.
Students worked in groups to come up with their own coffee company, Best Brew, Mr Bean, Cuppa Quality and Kool Beanz.
Each team followed the storyline that their companies had been operating for 10 years and students would need to run each business for another four years.
Mr Bean sales manager, Isabella Feltl, said throughout the workshop her team tried to focus on how to make their business more profitable.
“We tried to cut back on old machinery and replace it with new stuff to make our company more productive,” she said.
The teams competed against each other and against an economic scenario for each year of the company's operation.
At the end of the ECOMAN program, students reported to Ulton representatives, impersonating key stakeholders, on their company's success.
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey attended the final day and listened to discussions about the high calibre of work that had come from the four teams.
“I'd like to commend Ulton, the schools and especially the students for taking part in this fantastic exercise to create the entrepreneurs of tomorrow,” Mayor Dempsey said.
The ECOMAN program finished today with the winning team announced as Best Brew.
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