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YBMA 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT – The Hunter’s Young Business Minds of 2024

Career Links, the organization behind the Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA), is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 awards. On Tuesday evening 12 November, around 200 students, teachers, parents, sponsors, and innovation industry representatives converged on the I2N Hub at Honeysuckle to network, celebrate and engage with the Hunter’s youngest business minds.

The YBMA has enjoyed a record number of entries this year with 45 entries, representing 13 schools from across the region and around 150 students and teachers. To win, students and teachers entered a video pitch outlining their big idea which was then judged by sponsors and business representatives.

The categories and winners were:

•          Secondary and Under 25s competed across five categories.

  • Sustainability winner was Samuel Varughese and Levi Troyer from Hunter Christian School with their project Second Chance Soil – repurposing and revitalising contaminated soil and turning it into community garden beds.
  • Business Enterprise winner was Max and Matthew Sharpe who were individual entrants featuring their business Edu Wiz which teaches students practical financial skills that aren’t taught at school.
  • Social Enterprise winner was Akash Enjeti from Merewether High School with his project Chill Out which is an app where you can interact with other users to teach mindfulness and essential coping mechanisms for students in stressful situations in life such as exams.
  • Design & Technology winner was Joshua Pidgeon from Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College with his project Guardian ADS which addresses the problem of unexploded landmines of which there are as many as 110,000,000.
  • Creative Industries winner was the Coastal Currents team from Rutherford Technology High who created a prototype for a sustainable and fiberglass free surf board that would cause no damage to our waterways and environment.

•          Primary students competed in a Sustainability category and the winner was the Creative Creators team from Shoal Bay Public School with their Native Australian Stingless Bee Hives school project which aims to encourage schools to have their own beehives in order to increase their population after the recent varroa mite infestation.

•          Teachers were also recognized for innovation in the classroom and the winner was Jade Bassett from Rutherford Technology High with her project Women in STEM Industries Initiative which aims to capacity build STEM skills and career pathways for young women.

This year there was an encouragement award presented to Charles Cohen of Newcastle Grammar School. He had entered four different projects in the awards and the judges wanted to recognize his enthusiasm.

The Young Business Mind of the Year award went to James Chesterfield and Jed Pennington of Belmont Christian College with their project Salare which addresses the cost-of-living crisis by providing an app to track grocery spending and use-by dates, and even suggests recipes to reduce household waste.

The boys were quick to point out that what began as a school project is already a business with a website up and running and the app in development which they are hoping to release in January 2025. You can follow the business on Instagram at @salare_official.

Joshua Pidgeon, who won the Design & Technology category was one of last year’s winners and couldn’t believe that he won a second time. “It’s such a different project I didn’t expect to win again. I want to go into engineering, mechatronics or aerospace one day.”

Winner of the Teacher Innovation award, Jade Bassett, is most proud of ‘her girls’, the young women that she trains in STEM. “I started this initiative because I asked the girls in my class what they wanted to be when they left school. Their answers were mostly limited to teaching and nursing. I wanted to prove to them that girls could do so much more. With a supportive school principal we were able to visit 16 industries in ten weeks instead of attending sport. I’m so proud of my girls and how far they’ve come,” said Jade.

The MC and speaker of the night was Ryan Muir, himself a young successful entrepreneur, one of last year’s YBMA participants and CEO of RAM Manufacturing. He spoke on Risk Taking and Courage in Entrepreneurship. Sponsors presented the awards to the successful students and teachers while proud parents watched on. Sponsors included AGL as Gold Sponsor, Hunter Water, University of Newcastle – I2N, Spectrum Comms, Intouch Magazine and Hunter IF (the organization behind the Hunter Innovation Festival).

“As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship in young people is a way to shape our future and drive positive change that helps our young people to thrive,” said Career Links CEO, John Purcell. “The Career Links YBMA helps to build confidence and inspire future career pathways.”

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YBMA 2024

Ryan Muir – Speaker & MC at YBMA Gala Awards Night

The Young Business Mind Awards culminates in a Gala Awards night on the 12th of November and will feature a speaker who has a deep understanding of youth entrepreneurship and innovation. This year, the speaker and MC of the event will be Ryan Muir, CEO of RAM Manufacturing.

Ryan grew up in Sydney and Port Macquarie completing his apprenticeship in the flooring industry before settling in Newcastle to begin his academic career. As an early leaver of high school Ryan started at the University of Newcastle completing an open foundation degree before moving on to study a Bachelors in Business.

Since 2021, Ryan has passionately dedicated himself to addressing critical issues within the flooring industry and tackling Australia’s waste plastics problem through the commercialization of Echidna Strip, a durable and sustainable alternative for carpet installation that transforms plastic waste into valuable construction materials.

Ryan’s commitment to confronting national challenges is matched by his deep appreciation for the Hunter region’s rich industrial legacy. Empowering the next generation with a can-do attitude while fostering a strong connection to country is vital to ensuring prosperity for the many generations to come.

With fresh memory of the challenges neurodiverse students face within the classroom, supporting the YBMA is a way for Ryan to channel his experience as a high school dropout turned qualified tradesman, turned entrepreneur into a program that shines light on students’ broader problem-solving abilities. His involvement in YBMA reflects his dedication to creating opportunities for young minds to excel beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Ryan is a member of the manufacturing committee of Hunter IF, the organisation behind the Hunter Innovation Festival, and is a passionate supporter of youth innovation programs such as YBMA.

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YBMA 2024

YBMA Mentorship: Unlocking Potential for Youth in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

older man helping younger man with woodwork

Here at the YBMA, we’re all about highlighting & encouraging the exceptional talent of young innovators and entrepreneurs. The awards and competitive process help us identify youth with potential and they are rewarded and recognised at our Awards Gala on 24 September. But what happens after that?

YBMA is part of Career Links, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transitioning young people from school to the next stage of their lives. This may be tertiary education, apprenticeships, jobs or self-employment. Career Links has a vast network of industry, business and educational connections that can be drawn upon to create bespoke mentorships for YBMA winners, enabling the exploration of further development for the winning projects and building industry connections for our young people. Each mentorship may look different and could include, meetings, incursions, site visits, and project development.

For the youth venturing into innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry, operating in a fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, having a mentor can be a game-changer. As the YBMA highlights the exceptional talent of young entrepreneurs and innovators, it’s essential to recognize how mentorship can significantly impact their journeys going forward.

Why Mentorship Matters

Mentorship offers more than just guidance; it provides a comprehensive support system that can accelerate a young innovator’s growth and success. Here’s how mentorship makes a difference:

1. **Guidance and Expertise**: Mentors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that can help young entrepreneurs navigate complex business landscapes. They provide invaluable insights into industry trends, strategic planning, and practical problem-solving, which are crucial for turning ideas into viable businesses.

2. **Network Expansion**: One of the most significant benefits of mentorship is access to a broader professional network. Mentors can introduce their mentees to key industry contacts, potential collaborators, and investors, helping to open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

3. **Confidence Building**: The entrepreneurial journey is often fraught with challenges and uncertainties. A mentor’s encouragement and constructive feedback can boost a young entrepreneur’s confidence, helping them tackle obstacles with resilience and a positive mindset.

4. **Skill Development**: Mentors offer tailored advice and training to help young innovators develop critical skills. Whether it’s mastering the art of pitching, understanding financial management, or refining leadership qualities, mentorship provides targeted support that is essential for personal and professional growth.

5. **Accountability and Motivation**: Regular interactions with a mentor can help young entrepreneurs stay focused and motivated. A mentor acts as a sounding board, helping to set realistic goals and holding the mentee accountable, which can lead to more disciplined and effective progress.

As the YBMA continue to celebrate the innovative spirit of Newcastle’s youth, it’s clear that mentorship plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of business leaders. By offering guidance, expanding networks, and building confidence, mentors help young innovators unlock their full potential, driving success in innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry.

For aspiring young entrepreneurs, seeking out a mentor could be the key to transforming ideas into impactful realities. It’s not just about having someone to guide you; it’s about having a partner in your journey toward making a difference in the world.

Career Links and YBMA are proud to offer mentorships to the winners of each category within the YBMA awards.

For business leaders interested in taking part in the YBMA/Career Links Mentorship Program, please contact Amber Glasper for further information at ybma@careerlinks.nsw.edu.au with MENTOR  in the subject line or call on 0402 504 886.

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YBMA 2024

Judging Criteria

Entries for the Young Business Mind Awards need to address these key criteria within the category chosen:

  1. What is the problem or issue your idea is tackling?
  2. What is the big benefit of your idea?
  3. Who will benefit from your idea and why?
  4. Why are you passionate about this idea?

Judges will be looking at the following:

1.            Communication of the idea/ product or project

  • Does the entrant/ team describe the idea clearly?
  • Does the entrant / team tell a compelling story that stands out from the rest?
  • Does the communication of the idea create the potential to influence others? (Investors, engineers etc.)

2.            The Why

  • Why did you submit an entry to these awards?
  • Why this category?
  • Will the idea / product solve a clear pain point for customers/end users?

3.            The Outcome

  • Explain how your solution has a social, economic and/or environmental impact (relevant to your category)
  • How will you use this idea to build a community of ‘followers’ that will help encourage innovation amongst your fellow students?

Scoring by the judges will consider the same three elements with scores of 1 to 5 being applied as follows:

Scoring Communication of the Idea/ Product or Project – the Pitch

5 = Individual/Team demonstrates great presentation skills that include all team/individual strengths and abilities. Individual/Team is professional in appearance and is strong in its overall cohesion and communication. They have included a pitch deck in their entry.

3 = Individual/Team demonstrates moderate presentation and team communication skills but would benefit from further guidance and practice.

1 = Individual/Team is not comfortable or is ineffective in presentation skills and team communication skills.

Scoring The Why – Desirability

5 = Individual/Team has a clearly explained the why of their idea and a clearly defined solution.

3 = Individual/Team has a clear idea/solution but is not clear on how or why it meets the need.

1 = Individual/Team has unclear idea/ product definition.

Scoring The Outcome – Feasibility/Viability

5 = Breakthrough innovation that potentially changes how impact is achieved; generates enthusiasm and support.

3 = Moderately innovative; different but not game changing.

1 = Interesting idea, but not distinctively innovative.

Judging

All entries are judged by a panel of subject matter experts, industry or business professionals selected at the sole discretion of Career Links from subject matter experts or practitioners in the areas of creativity, entrepreneurship or business.

Judges are required to sign a confidentiality agreement and disclose any conflict of interest.

The judges’ decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into after a decision is made. We do not provide feedback on entries.

We wish everyone the best of luck with their entries and we can’t wait to see them! Entries are due in on September 3.

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HYBMA 2024 Uncategorized

How it works…

Are you looking to inspire your students with an exciting project that sets them up for success? One that can lead to business and industry mentorship and that recognises and rewards efforts to make our world a better place?

The Young Business Mind Awards is open again this year and has partnered with the Hunter Innovation Festival to create opportunity and resources that encourage our young people to look to the future with positivity, to foster a sense of entrepreneurship and an awareness of the skills necessary for success in the world.

The YBMA has been providing a showcase opportunity for children and young people under the age of 25 to develop entrepreneurial projects since 2017. Young people are encouraged to enter a business idea, design a new product or showcase a creative project for a chance to win cash prizes, school recognition, industry mentorship and participation in this year’s Hunter Innovation Festival.

Primary students are encouraged to take on a class project exploring ideas around Sustainability.

Secondary students and under 25s can work as individuals or in groups across the categories of Sustainability, Social or Business Enterprise, Creative Industries or Design and Technology. It’s about taking a step closer to a future where their ideas can make a difference.

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1: Decide that you’re going to pursue this as a great project for your students (or yourself – there are teacher awards too) and register here. If you register before 31 May, you could win one of 10 $30 cash gift cards. Registration is only so that we have an idea of who is working towards their entry and how many participants we are likely to have and is not a barrier to entry.

Step 2: Familiarise yourself with the resources available online here. And the entry requirements (Secondary; Primary; Teacher).

Step 3: Talk to your students about the awards and start researching your big ideas, determining what category each student/group is entering as you go (Sustainability for Primary students; Sustainability, Business, Social Enterprise, Creative Industries, Design & Technology for Secondary students).

Hints: The awards are called the Young Business Mind Awards – the idea is to showcase an innovative new idea/business/product within your chosen category. Many existing school projects will fit the bill without much extra work entailed. How can you take your idea and create a business or product from it? What problems can you solve? Use the resources available online.

INVITATION – this is the point at which we invite you to reach out and request a visit from one of our team. We are happy to come along and present to your students for 30 minutes or so, explaining the awards and inspiring big ideas. Please reply to this email before June 7 if this is something you would like to take advantage of – we are offering this to 15 schools only.

Step 4: Award applicants should prepare a simple pitch deck explaining their project and produce a short 2 minute video to submit by Sept 3. The resource page on our website contains a pitch deck template, an idea builder for primary students, curriculum links for teachers, and a digital magazine for teens that contains useful content.

Step 5: Attend the awards ceremony, tentatively scheduled for Sept 24 to find out if you’ve won or been a runner up! Enjoy your prizes – we can arrange mentorship by appropriate businesses or industry leaders, incursions, excursions, attendance and participation in the Hunter Innovation Festival, there’s cash, trophies and certificates.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to us (email us at ybma@careerlinks.nsw.edu.au. Put your hand up for a visit. We want to make this as easy and rewarding for you as we can. We really believe that events like these help to foster the skills and networks our young people are going to need to be successful in the future and we’d love your students to be a part of it this year. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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HYBMA 2024 Uncategorized

Prizes for YBMA 2024

Prizes for YBMA are a bit different this year. We want to bring more value to the school, teachers and students. The biggest change is the collaboration with the Hunter Innovation Festival and the opportunity for students to attend and even participate in the festival. The addition of business and industry mentorships will be facilitated through Hunter IF and sponsors.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Primary Schools enter the Sustainability Category as a classroom or as individuals. There will be one winner and one runner up with some encouragement awards.

Primary Winner/s will receive:

School – $200 + Primary School Trophy

Entrant/s – $50 cash card + medallions & certificates

Invitation to attend the Hunter Innovation Festival valued at $249pp

Runners up & Encouragement Awards will be medallions & certificates.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS/UNDER 25S

Secondary Schools and Under 25s enter as groups or individuals in the categories of Business, Social Enterprise, Sustainability, Design & Technology and Creative Industries. There will be one winner and runner up from each category with some encouragement awards.

Secondary / Under 25s Winner/s will receive:

School – $200 + Category Trophy

Entrant/s – $50 cash card + medallions & certificates

Invitation to attend the Hunter Innovation Festival valued at $249pp

Runners up & Encouragement Awards will be medallions & certificates.

OVERALL WINNER

This year we’ve decided to award an overall winner. The overall winner can be awarded from either Primary, Secondary or Under 25s.

Overall Winner will receive:

School – $500 + Secondary School Trophy

If not in school, Under 25s – $500 seed funding + Trophy

Entrant/s – $100 cash card + medallions & certificates

Invitation to Hunter Innovation Festival valued at $249pp

Opportunity to pitch at the Hunter Angels Pitch Event as part of Hunter Innovation Festival

TEACHERS

And we never forget our teachers, who can enter for innovation in the classroom. There will be one winner and one runner up with a possible encouragement award.

Winner will receive:

School – $500 + School Trophy

Entrant – $100 cash card + Trophy & certificate

Invitation to Hunter Innovation Festival valued at $249pp

Runners up & Encouragement Awards will be medallions & certificates.

In addition to the above prizes there will also be mentorships, incursions, excursions etc offered through sponsor organisations and/or the Hunter Innovation Festival. We are looking to showcase the winners at the festival and invite a panel of young people to participate.

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HYBMA 2024 Uncategorized

YBMA Winner Success

The Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA) has launched this year’s search for young innovators and entrepreneurs. The YBMA has been providing a showcase opportunity for children and young people under the age of 25 to develop entrepreneurial projects since 2017.

Young people are encouraged to enter a business idea, design a new product or showcase a creative project for a chance to win cash prizes, school recognition, industry mentorship and participation in this year’s Hunter Innovation Festival. Primary students are encouraged to take on a class project exploring ideas around Sustainability. Secondary students and under 25s can work as individuals or in groups across the categories of Sustainability, Social or Business Enterprise, Creative Industries or Design and Technology. It’s about taking a step closer to a future where their ideas can make a difference.

Last year, a group of six Year 8 students from Hunter School of Performing Arts (HSPA) won the Social Enterprise category for their innovative accessible self-checkout design. The exposure from the event has propelled their project forward, and they are now collaborating with Woolworths who is piloting its own accessible self-checkout design. The students will be travelling to Sydney to meet the design team behind it with the trip being funded by the winnings from YBMA.

“Winning the YBMA was a transformative experience for our students,” said Ben Moore, TAS teacher and STEM Project Officer at HSPA. “It not only validated their hard work, but the support and recognition also opened doors to incredible opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders.”

The YBMA is presented by Career Links, the organisation behind the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Career Expo and the Work Placement Program. The team are also collaborating with the Hunter Innovation Festival, the premier platform for showcasing innovation in our region.

Ryan Muir, CEO of RAM Manufacturing, and a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Action Summit group of Hunter IF is thrilled to be collaborating with YBMA.

“This partnership marks a pivotal moment as two great organizations join forces to nurture the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources and recognition they need to succeed,” said Ryan.

All the information about the awards can be found at www.ybma.com.au/about-the-awards/. Entries close on Sept 3.

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HYBMA 2024

YBMA Partners with Hunter IF

We are terribly excited to announce that we are collaborating with Hunter IF and the Hunter Innovation Festival for this year’s awards. Hunter IF are keen to engage with the young people of our region, encouraging and rewarding the development of innovation and entrepreneurship skills.


Since its inception in 2002 as a component of The Australian Innovation Festival, initiated by Regional Development Australia, the Hunter Innovation Festival has significantly evolved to become a premier platform for showcasing innovation in Greater Newcastle and the Hunter region. It offers a platform for networking, learning, and inspiration and an opportunity to align with forward-thinking sectors of the community and support the region’s economic development.


Ryan Muir, CEO of RAM Manufacturing, and a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Action Summit group of Hunter IF is thrilled to be collaborating with YBMA.


“This partnership marks a pivotal moment as two great organizations join forces to enhance their offerings to the ambitious young minds across the Hunter Region,” said Ryan. “Together, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources and recognition they need to succeed.”


The collaboration will offer participating students with additional online resources to inspire and engage imaginations as well as the opportunity to win passes to the Hunter Innovation Festival in October. The overall winner of the YBMA in 2024 will also be given the opportunity to pitch their BIG IDEA at the Hunter Angels Pitch Event as part of the Hunter Innovation Festival. YBMA winners’ work will also be showcased at the festival.


With representatives from sectors including Modern Manufacturing, Health Care, Circular Economy, Clean Technology, Emerging Technology, Defence, Finance and Investment, Research and Education, and Government in attendance at the festival, it provides students with a unique opportunity to learn, network and engage in a way that can provide insight, inspiration and a springboard into a future fit career within the innovation space.


“We’re eager to see the creative and innovative projects that participants will bring to the table,” said Ryan. “Let’s make this year’s awards a resounding success!”


Keep your eyes peeled over the coming few weeks for new online resources to inspire BIG IDEAS and don’t forget that registrations are open until May 31st with completed projects due on September 3.


** Let’s innovate and inspire together! **

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Startups @ School

Young Business Mind Awards (YBMA) is proud to have I2N Integrated Innovation Network, a part of the University of Newcastle as one of our long-term partners. Did you know that they offer presentations and workshops for year 9 and 10 students on entrepreneurship?

This year we will be working with our partners to provide our teachers and schools with more resources to enable and grow participation in the YBMA because we believe that innovation and entrepreneurship are critical to our future – and that supporting our young people to develop skills in these areas is our duty.

I2N Startups @ School presentations and workshops are presented by leading I2N Startup founders, to inspire a future generation to reimagine what they can achieve in their career. Each program features one I2N Startup founder who, through sharing their story, will give the students a first-hand insight into the life of an entrepreneur.

The program is designed to be flexible and can be delivered at your school (from classes to year groups) or at the University of Newcastle’s Q Building in Newcastle (up to 60 students). There are two options to choose from – the 30-minute option which is perfect for assemblies and career days, featuring a presentation from a local startup founder or the 60-minutes option which also incorporates an interactive workshop into what entrepreneurship is and what the first steps look like once you have an idea.

This program fits seamlessly into the YBMA as it provides the perfect foundation for students to develop the confidence to problem solve, to understand how innovation and entrepreneurship work and to have a go at developing their own BIG IDEA to enter into the awards.

If you are interested in inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs through a Startups @ School presentation or workshop, you can find more information at newcastle.edu.au/startups-at-school or contact Tayla Furey, Program Coordinator, (High Schools) at Tayla.furey@newcastle.edu.au or phone +61 2 49217410. Along with participation in YBMA, it begins a solid foundation in the study of entrepreneurship, business studies and career preparation.

The YBMA is about encouraging students and schools in the Hunter to think like entrepreneurs, to express their creativity and develop the self-confidence to present their ideas. YBMA is a Career Links event.

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