Next 36 partnership arms top students with business know-how: Ernst & Young
(Toronto, 2 August 2011) Who will be Canada’s next corporate giants? Ernst & Young is working with some of today’s brightest young entrepreneurs to help them transform business dreams into exceptional realities. These top students comprise The Next 36, a new program sponsored nationally by Ernst & Young.
Each year, The Next 36 identifies 36 of Canada’s most promising undergraduates and provides them access to a series of life-changing experiences and relationships. The program mixes world-class instruction with real-world challenges. As national partner, Ernst & Young will contribute financial and in-kind support, including its services, mentorships and networking opportunities.
“Being able to drive innovation is fundamental to our ability to remain competitive in a global economy that is increasingly knowledge-based,” says Trent Henry, Ernst & Young’s Canadian Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We have to develop new products, services and markets. We also need entrepreneurs to create new ways to use existing products. The Next 36 is helping to nurture talented young people who are capable of bringing innovative ideas to life.”
Henry says Ernst & Young is proud to be a part of the program, which has already seen the students attend intensive “entrepreneurship training” in its Toronto offices. The partnership will generate a wealth of other opportunities, including a chance for students to attend the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards this fall.
“We are delighted to have in Ernst & Young a partner who shares our vision for propelling Canadian prosperity through high impact entrepreneurs. The advice and networks they provide our talented young entrepreneurs will be invaluable both to their ventures and their personal development,” says Claudia Hepburn, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Next 36.
“Ernst & Young’s own research shows entrepreneurs are made — not born. Corporations, governments and communities of interest must join forces to provide the experiences these young leaders need to bring their business ideas to life,” adds Henry.
Ernst & Young’s recent global survey of entrepreneurs — Nature or nurture? — shows 55% of those polled were 29 years old and under when they started their first ventures, says Colleen McMorrow, Ernst & Young’s Canadian Leader of Entrepreneurial Services. “This clearly shows that dynamic young people continue to embrace entrepreneurship, and that’s why partnerships such as this are so vital.”
“Through our work with entrepreneurs around the world, we’ve acquired a deep understanding of how to turn the greatest challenges into spectacular opportunities,” explains McMorrow. “By sharing that knowledge with students from The Next 36, we can help build the experiences they need to see their ventures take flight.”
About Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice
Our Entrepreneurial Services practice serves Canada’s entrepreneurs by delivering integrated business advisory services in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to help them drive growth and create value. Our team of professionals has a track record of focusing on the issues and needs of companies as they grow from early stage to become market leaders. Ernst & Young has long worked with and celebrated the achievements of Canadian men and women who create the products, services and jobs that propel Canada’s economy and communities forward. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.