The two year-12 Aparima College pupils last week won first place in the young entrepreneurs competition with "Treet Yourself" and will represent Southland at the national finals in Wellington on December 4.
3-D visual designs were created on game series Minecraft for prospective clients to visualise proposed native tree planting concepts on the client’s property.
Caleb said they both opted to build their backyard business based on planting hundreds of native trees.
"We’d come to people’s backyards and plant a couple of trees for them. We’ve expanded to doing big riparian and farm plantings with hundreds and hundreds of trees."
Both pupils were from a rural background, which helped them to understand the importance of properly placed plantings, and to provide a solutions-based business that helped their community.
"We are quite exposed to it and it’s a problem we see first-hand.
Their business concept was also built around addressing climate change issues and carbon footprints.
They developed their business to include "sub-contractor" placements for about 20 William Pike Challenge community service participants.
"We got to help them out and do some planning together, which is really cool. We’re really excited about the potential that it has.
Since their mid-year pitch, they had experienced significant business growth which took the judges by surprise, Caleb said.
They hoped to continue building their business while at university.
The Young Enterprise Scheme was only part of their success this year — Caleb has been named head boy for 2024 and Brodie deputy head boy.
Aparima College principal Aloma Williams said the school was very excited for them and believed Caleb and Brodie were "pretty incredible pupils" who were not afraid to question and challenge themselves.
Their attitude, exceptional work ethic and who they were as young men made them a natural choice as role models.
"They have exceptional qualities and exemplary behaviour and outstanding attitude to everything they do."
Both were focused and driven with their learning and willing to put themselves outside their comfort zone, she said.
"Brodie believes schools are for learning, so he really applies himself to that.
"They are just both very, very great young men," Ms Williams said.
YES mentor and Aparima College teacher Lynne Grove said
growing regional champions from Aparima College had become "a bit of a tradition". In the 12 years the Young Enterprise Scheme had been running, the college had eight regional champions.
"A lot of those students have gone on to run businesses or be in the commercial world, corporate world or work for private organisations."
Former pupil, 2015 Aparima dux and YES winner Jessica Black returned to the school to mentor the finalists.
Southland Business Chamber judge moderator Joanne O’Connor said both Caleb and Brodie delivered a confident pitch.
"With a turnover of $6000 in a very short timeframe, we are excited to see where this business is heading in the region.
"Connecting and working alongside with Thriving Southland will further their opportunities and growth."
- By Toni McDonald
