Cromwell College year 13 pupils, behind business Second Harvest Sips, attended the national finals of the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) in Wellington late last week. 

The pupils used profits from their business to pay for the trip, funding from the college and help from local businesses to contest the national final.

Second Harvest Sips turn imperfect fruit from local orchards into a smoothie mix to provide a convenient solution for a nutritious shake or breakfast, promoting sustainability and reducing food waste in Central. 

Marketing manager Grace Croy and chief executive Taine Borthwick said the highlight of the trip to the final was everyone getting along and being happy together.

“Currently our plan is to take a break from Second Harvest Sips as our team is busy working and studying. But we will see what the future holds and hopefully start back up again in 2026.”

Cromwell College personal assistant and office manager Rebecca (Becs) Anderson said the pupils loved the experience albeit finding it nerve-racking. 

“Their pitch to the judges was engaging and informative. Taine and Grace were comfortable as the presenters . . . and confidently answered the judges questions at the end of their pitch.” 

The highlight was how well the students represented the college as a team, she said.

Along with the contest the group squeezed in a visit to Te Papa, Parliament and some shopping. 

The pupils at the YES finals in Wellington from left) Gracy Croy, Taine Borthwick, Samuel Jones and Oliver King. PHOTO: Cromwell College Facebook

Becs, Grace and Taine thanked business studies teacher Aimee Ross who taught and met with the team leading up to the national final, parents who travelled to Wellington to support the team, local business sponsors Cromwell Lions club, AWS Legal, 45 South,

Cromwell Medical Centre and the Cromwell College MRC Fund as well as business mentors Vicki McLean (The Central App), John Mezger (Business South) and Charlotte Radley (Checketts McKay). 

The group also was grateful to Webbs Fruit, Jones Family Fruit Stall, 45 South and Jackson Orchards for the donated fruit. 

The University of Otago has given all of the group a scholarship for Business School which Samuel Jones and Sam Jansen are both taking up next year.

Grace is taking a gap year, Louis will be working in Cromwell, Oliver will be undertaking an apprenticeship in Cromwell, and Taine is going to the University of Otago to pursue teacher training. 

The team Second Harvest Sips dressed for the gala dinner awards night in Wellington. PHOTO: Cromwell College Facebook  

New Zealand’ top young entrepreneurs from 30 yes businesses were celebrated at the Young Enterprise Scheme National Awards, held at Takina Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 5. 

Overall winner was Treet Yourself Contracting, from Apirima College, a Southland-based tree-planting company with a mission to restore New Zealand’s natural landscapes by focusing on planting native trees.

Second place went to Timaru Boys’ and Girls’ High School students for Seadown Road who repurposed waste carrots to create a natural carrot-based sweetener.

Third was Enivo Pots from Wellington Girls’ College, a company designing biodegradable plant pots made from forestry slash, intended for wholesale to nurseries to tackle plastic waste.

The 2024 programme marked record breaking numbers for the scheme with over 5000 students involved in the programme.

To qualify for the national final Second Harvest Sips beat 138 entrants from across Otago, winning the regional final in October.  

Read more: Cromwell College pupils take top honours at yes regional final

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