To think these kids are CFs

[IsItOnly2023]

Hi all, first post as OP, hope it's not too lengthy.

My DS (15) is running a student company with 14 others under the Young Enterprise Company Programme. He's appointed as "Managing Director" and has esentially single-handedly (with some help from others) turned it into a success.

The company does a few things but one of the things it does is buy sweets/brownies and drinks from cash-and-carry and sell it at the school's weekend sports events. He and the boy who runs that are usually at the events but DS was at Alton Towers with a friend and the other boy had an argument with his dad so couldn't go.

Anyway, 4 people went to the event with £65 worth of stock and came back with £25 and little stock. 1 boy says he tried to keep it under control but the others ate/drank all the stock. DS not impressed, and not entirely sure on what to do. Context: They are going to the Company of the Year competition on Wednesday (which DS wrote the entire entry for!) and have End of Year exams this week. Year 10 so not too bad but still important.

I said DS should get them to pay for new stock and go to the cash and carry themselves (me/DH have tended to drive DS there). Every student had to pay £20 in for share money, so it could be taken off their shares so they get less return after eating £40 of profit! Or even ask teacher to warn them/stop them representing the business at the competition.

What do you think? I am happy to answer any clarifying questions.

What a load of rubbish, this isn’t the “negatives of running a business”, it’s a bunch of thieving kids who ate the stock!

If I was the DS I’d be kicking them out of the group and demanding replacement of the missing stock. That’s what would happen in real life - imagine working in a supermarket and eating half the stock while you’re on your shift. That would be a sackable offence.

I think it's great that your son has come to you for advice and the fact that you're taking it seriously shows that he can rely on you to talk to. He is only 15 and won't have had experience in broaching awkward subjects with peers.

I'd maybe get him to go round the room and ask every member why they signed up for this. Hopefully there'll be some murmurs of learning new skills, exposure to business strategy, teamwork, etc. Then he can ask them how they feel they achieved these things by consuming the stock. Chances are there'll be a silent moment of self reflection among them.

Get him to reiterate their purpose, values and long term goals as a group and commit to this as a charter. This reignites people sometimes. People are more inclined to really commit when the alternative is being ostracised from the group for behaviour that goes against the group values.

I think the business should fold 🤣 seriously though if it’s about running a business … surely this is part and parcel of it and there is a lesson in there ? Poor management/selection of employees and risk and controls

What happened at the meeting? I would love to know the outcome.

Hi all,

Turns out there was an extra £8 revenue than reported and about £17 extra stock 🤣. 6 kids turned up at the event all together and ate about £3 each, individually not a sackable offence but together adds up quite quickly. Going forward new rules will be established and the teacher had a right go at those who are it threatening to kick them saying it's theft etc. Should be better run in the future 🤷‍♀️. Anyway DS just texted to say he's left for the competition, will let you all know how it goes.

@IsItOnly2023 good to hear it went well at the meeting.

@Weedoormatnomore
I agree wholeheartedly with what you said.