It’s 2012 and the challenge to make enterprise and entrepreneurship a key part of  today’s education has never been more important!

Our ‘Are You Ready?’ campaign continues to gather momentum and key partners are  giving their support every day.

Read the campaign here and don’t forget to sign the e- petition: www.areyouready.co.uk/campaign

Rotherham Ready activity in 2012 continues to grow and develop and this year we’re excited to introduce several special guests through our Enterprise Champions Network Meetings who will inspire, motivate and support you to continue developing enterprise in your schools and colleges.

As always, we have a jam-packed programme of activity to support your CPD requirements and just for 2012, we will be introducing the very unique ‘Family Money Tree’ training and resource package to bring enterprise into your family learning practice.  Our Champion Schools for Enterprise are continuing to support schools in their development and are hosting a number of masterclasses including; curriculum development, staff support and NQT training.

For all training and CPD opportunities this year, please visit RGFL or contact one of the team for a copy of the full programme.

Here’s to an enterprising 2012!

The ‘Creating a Culture of Enterprise in Education’ event being held today is the  culmination of a two and a half year project run by award-winning enterprise education    programme Rotherham Ready.

Rotherham Ready has been working with secondary schools and colleges to develop  enterprise in education from Key Stage 3 upwards. This work has included developing  resources, training models and new approaches that support schools and colleges to  champion and develop enterprise. The programme has also included work to integrate  enterprise into Initial Teacher Training (ITT). Through the programme more than 700 t  trainee teachers at Sheffield Hallam University have learned how to develop enterprise  through the curriculum through the Inspire ITT programme.

Today teachers involved in the project will meet to share their experiences and receive a  complete set of ERDF resources for their school.

They will also meet international education speaker and former Head Teacher of the  Year, Richard Gerver.

Richard, who visited Rotherham in 2009, said: “In the last year I have visited China, Brazil, India and Sweden and enterprise and entrepreneurship are firmly on the top of the education agenda in these countries. Globally, governments are looking for approaches that will develop young people’s skills and creativity, and I’m really pleased to be able to come back to Rotherham to see the work they have been developing in this area. The challenges our young people will face in the future are simply too big to ignore. As school leaders we have got to stop discussing whether we do this, and simply get on with it, as Rotherham Ready is.”

Catherine Brentnall, ERDF Project Officer added: “If we want young people to have the skills and personality they will need to succeed in the future, and if we want a dynamic economy, then enterprise needs to be a key part of young people’s education, all the way through their education. We want all teachers, no matter what age, stage or subject they teach, to be confident and equipped to make enterprise and entrepreneurship part of young people’s learning and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity the ERDF funding has given us to help progress this aim.”

*Pictured are staff and students from Wingfield Business and Enterprise College and their business mentor from Parkgate Shopping, who worked together on an ERDF ‘Make £5 Blossom’ pilot where students honed their entrepreneurial skills through the curriculum.

On Monday 3rd October at the Hilton Tower Bridge hotel, Rotherham-based   enterprise education programme Are You Ready? was announced as the winner of   the StartUp Britain ‘Best Enterprise Support Award’ sponsored by Ernst & Young.

The award recognises programmes targeting regional growth and enterprise, but   which have the capacity for scaling nationally. It was open to start-ups or individuals   that may have had a positive social and economic impact in their region,     are sustainable, and have been running for less than three years.

Are You Ready? is a national, 4-19 enterprise programme based on the ground-     breaking work of their local flagship project – Rotherham Ready.  The Are You Ready? campaign aims to prepare young people for the challenges and opportunities of life in the 21st century by inspiring teachers to integrate enterprise skills and culture into the life and curriculum of schools and colleges.

Secret Millionaire and social entrepreneur Carl Hopkins gave his backing to the pioneering programme by becoming a founding patron in June 2011.

Representatives from the Are You Ready? team were presented the award by Business Secretary Vince Cable. He said: “Enterprise is the lifeblood of our economy and the people represented in this competition show just how much British entrepreneurs can achieve.”

Judges of the competition were impressed by the fact the initiative is “scalable and easy to replicate in other countries.” Are You Ready? have successfully replicated the Rotherham model of developing enterprise in Hull, North Lincolnshire, Calderdale and Scarborough, with additional training planned to be delivered across the UK.

“Headspace” invites you to take the time to;

-          Reflect on the progress your school has made

-          Consider the new challenges ahead

-          Work together to plan for the future and explore how Rotherham Ready and other enterprising schools / teachers, are able to help you move forward successfully

Through a range of practical and thought-provoking activities this session aims to inspire, motivate and provide valuable reflection opportunities for Senior Leaders and Managers across all Rotherhamschools.

To reserve your place, please contact Michelle  on michelle.trench@rotherham.gov.uk