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 Rotherham
was the focus this week for a visit by HM Treasury officials
researching the best examples of Enterprise Education
in the UK. The visit showcased the ground-breaking work
of the “Rotherham Ready” enterprise initiative
and the Rotherham “Investors in Education” scheme
which together are giving school
pupils as young as four an insight into the world of work and the
kind of enterprising skills they will need to shape their future.
The visit followed on from a Reception in July hosted by local
MP and Treasury Minister John Healey MP at No 11 Downing Street
when ten Rotherham schools, together with Dearne Valley College,
received the Excellence in Enterprise Education Award from Warwick
University, including the first primary school, special school
and college in the country to receive the award.
Nearly 2,000 local young people have already got involved in the
Rotherham Ready initiative which sees those aged four to 19 benefit
from a range of business enterprise experiences. The project will
make Rotherham the first area in the country to offer enterprise
learning to all students in primary, secondary and further education.
At the same time, small businesses across Rotherham are signing
up to become Investors in Education, a new standard for business
education partnerships offering small businesses in particular
a wide range of flexible ways to forge relationships with local
schools and benefit from young people’s enterprising skills
and ideas.
The visit by HM Treasury officials showcased enterprise education
activity in Rotherham from primary all the way through to business
start up.
At Rawmarsh Ashwood Primary school, Treasury officials heard how
Year 6 pupils had been running small businesses based on their
own ideas during the lunch breaks. Ideas included car washing,
shoe cleaning and selling bakery confections, and pupils quickly
learnt about advertising, pricing strategy, stock control and quality
assurance, making a £230 profit over the week-long activity.
The visit then moved to Winterhill School to talk to pupils using
the dynamic and interactive “u-xplore” careers, advice
and guidance system developed as part of the Investors in Education
programme to engage young people in exciting local and regional
opportunities for jobs and career development.
“It’s about bringing a local and relevant context
to young people’s learning,” commented Andy Pickles,
Chief Executive of Investors in Education.
At Wales High School the team was introduced to the Young Persons
Chamber, a pioneering development by students at the school working
in collaboration with Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.
The visit concluded at Moorgate Crofts Enterprise Centre where
Rotherham’s emerging young entrepreneurs are finding a hi-tech
and supportive environment for their business start ups.
There was good feedback from Treasury officials on the positive
direction of enterprise culture activities in Rotherham with particular
emphasis on the strong partnership and support by a wide variety
of stakeholders on enterprise education activities in schools.
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