Judging Young Enterprise NI by Deimena Klevaite

A blog by Deimena Klevaite, People Placement Student

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a Young Enterprise event to represent Lynas as a judge and see enterprise education in action.

The event brought together pupils from across Northern Ireland and challenged them to step into the world of business by creating and running their own stalls. From concept and branding to pricing and customer engagement, each team had clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into their ideas. It was impressive to see the level of creativity, confidence and entrepreneurial spirit shown at this early stage of their professional development. 

As a judge, my role was to engage with each stall and assess the business concepts across criteria such as innovation, presentation, communication and overall commercial understanding.  What stood out was how clearly many pupils could explain their products, target customers and pricing — skills that will be valuable beyond the classroom, particularly in fast-paced industries like foodservice and hospitality. 

Representing Lynas at the event allowed me to share practical insight from a real-world business perspective while supporting pupils as they explored enterprise for the first time. As a family-run business, Lynas understands the value of learning by doing, which is why involvement in programmes like Young Enterprise is important to us.  

Beyond the judging itself, the event was a fantastic networking opportunity to connect with fellow judges, educators and representatives from other local businesses. These conversations allowed me to exchange ideas and gain fresh perspectives from different industries, something I always value. 

Choosing a winner was no easy task and a reminder of the potential that exists when young people are given practical opportunities to develop and test their ideas. 

I left the event feeling proud to have represented Lynas and encouraged by the standard of work. I would highly recommend involvement in events like this to any organisation looking to give back and connect with young people. I wish all the pupils every success as they continue to test their ideas, learn from feedback and build on the skills they demonstrated on the day.