Southland YES Regional Finals

Join us for a night celebrating our amazing Young Enterprise (YES) students!

In just over 6 months they've set up and run real businesses, completing 4 business challenges.

YES students and supporters are all welcome. We especially love to see families and friends come along to support their young entrepreneurs, alongside our wonderful sponsors, mentors, and teachers.

Our MCs for the evening are the wonderful Bellah and Paris, from Invercargill Young Professionals.

Please RSVP for catering purposes by Wednesday 14 October.

We look forward to celebrating with you, thanks to the generous support of our amazing sponsors!

For enquiries, contact jessica.black@youngenterprise.org.nz

Follow along @yes_southland on Insta

On the night:

• Live pitches from our top 6 teams - they'll pitch their business to a panel of expert judges - competing for the title of Southland Company of the Year and advancing them to the YES Nationals in Wellington in December.

• Crowning our Young Enterprise Southland Company of the Year, proudly sponsored by the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT).

• Celebrating our Regional Excellence Award Winners, and Southland Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

• Student performances (music), sponsor and mentor acknowledgements, and re-caps of the YES year.

Refreshments/a light dinner will be provided. Attendees are welcome to purchase drinks at the bar upon arrival and during the break.

Event Schedule

5:30pm – Doors Open, Nibbles and drinks

6:00pm – Welcome & Kick-Off

6:10pm – Business Pitches by the Top 6 Teams

7:30pm – Break - Warm food/platters

8:00pm – Awards Ceremony

8:30/9:00pm – Event Concludes 

YES Southland Awards 2026

Murihiku Mover & Shaker Award – Sponsored by Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT)

Excellence for Social Enterprise – Sponsored by Invercargill Airport

Excellence in Sales & Marketing - Sponsored by Elm Marketing

Excellence in Innovation – Sponsored by Rio Tinto | NZAS

Business Growth & Strategic Excellence Award – Sponsored by McIntyre Dick

Individual Awards

Southland Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 – Sponsored by Community Trust South

Regional Champion

Young Enterprise Southland Company of the Year 2026 – Sponsored by Southern Institute of Technology