Design creates freedom...

Young Innovator Awards Branding

The Young Innovator Awards (YiA) is organised by economic development agency, Priority One and is unique to the Western Bay of plenty region.  This year’s organisers were blown away by the number of secondary school student’s entries and look forward to even more entries in 2012.

The Awards are part of Priority One’s Instep programme and enable local business people to recognize and award students’ ability to problem-solve, a key skill needed by businesses to become more efficient and sustainable in the future.

Priority One Instep Manager, Lyn Parlane, says the competition was not necessarily about creating something new, but was often as simple as looking at how something could be improved to be more efficient and sustainable.

“The world is rapidly changing, kids enjoyed playing board games but now electronic games are hugely popular. In the past, people consulted maps when they needed directions whereas today they use Navman.”

“Inventing new products and services, or modifying old ones through innovative ideas, is the way of the future, and those are the skills we want to foster in our young people.”

Local businesses supporting YiA benefit, as the competition aims to help develop the traits they seek in future employees. Students can compete in teams or as individuals for a $1000 cash prize and the opportunity to be mentored by local business people. Both supreme winners took up this opportunity last year.

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