EDF Energy's Simon Warrilow at the Farringdon School Young Enterprise day with pupils, clockwise from left, Jonathon Foggin, Jason Simms, Liam Robinson, Keiren Stimpson, Keiren Grievson and Adam Patterson.

Sunderland pupils among first to try Olympic enterprise day

School pupils in Sunderland have put their energy into enterprising ideas as part of an Olympic-themed business project being piloted in the city.

The pupils from Farringdon Community Sports College took part in the ‘In Business with the Games’ day which is being piloted for the first time outside of London by Young Enterprise with support from EDF Energy.

Nearly 200 year nine pupils took part in the day, which takes students through engaging enterprise challenges that reveal the business behind the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Five members of staff from EDF Energy’s customer service centre in Doxford Park led the day which looked at the impact of the Games on businesses and the community.

As a company, EDF Energy is committed to playing an active role in the local community by working in close partnership with schools, charities and other organisations.

The programme will be rolled out to other areas of the country following the pilots by EDF Energy in Sunderland.

Young Enterprise, the UK’s leading enterprise education charity, is building a connected world of young people, business volunteers and educators, inspiring each other to succeed through enterprise.

‘In Business with the Games’ allows pupils to explore the cultural and economic impact of the Games on businesses and communities across the UK. It inspires pupils to develop their enterprising skills, attitudes and behaviours.

Janet Woodhouse, North East development officer at Young Enterprise, said: “We’re delighted to be working with EDF Energy to bring this new Olympic-themed enterprise day to young people in the North East.

“It’s our aim to work with local schools, colleges and businesses to empower the next generation with the confidence, ability and ambition to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.”

Jonathon Foggin, 14, said: “It was interesting to learn more about the Games and to find out about business and enterprise. The practical activities were really good and I feel like I learned quite a lot from the day.”

EDF is the first sustainability partner for the London 2012 and Paralympic Games and is working with charity partner ParalympicsGB to reduce its environmental impact, focusing on its training camps, and helping athletes and coaches become more sustainable and save energy and money.

STUDENTS TO REPRESENT NORTH EAST IN NATIONAL ENTERPRISE COMPETITION

Young Enterprise Regional Final Company of the Year winners - Tripz 'n' Tipz’.

STUDENTS from North Shields were announced the winners of the Young Enterprise Regional Final last night (Tuesday 14 June 2011) in an evening that toasted the achievements of enterprising students, teachers and the regional business community.
‘Tripz 'n' Tipz’ a company set up by year 12 students from John Spence Community High School walked away with the Company of the Year title with their business that produces interactive travel packs for children.
Tripz 'n' Tipz aim to inform, educate and entertain customers about their choice of destination.
Its first pack is based upon the country of Turkey. Featuring an activity book, historical information, a diary, useful phrases, a lanyard, a mascot and packaged in a reusable bag - it is ideal for any young traveller going to Turkey.

The company hopes to get the product noticed by major travel companies and has plans to produce packs for other major tourist destinations. The students have already had positive feedback from Hays Travel and WH Smith.

The winners, sponsored by Sage UK ltd were revealed at an awards ceremony at the Gosforth Marriott Hotel last night, and will now go through to represent the region in the Young Enterprise National Final in London in July.
The competition is part of YE’s Company and Team (special needs) programme, which sees students, establish a real company complete with products to sell, targets to reach, a board of directors and saleable shares.
Tripz 'n' Tipz sales director Shannon Brown said: “We are so thrilled to have won – I think we are in shock as the standard of all the other group’s businesses was so high and cannot believe we have actually won. We are all now so excited to represent our region in the National Final – London here we come.”
The winners of the Runner Up Company of the Year Award went to All Shook Up – a cocktail shaker manufacturer set up by a group year 12 students from Westfield School in Newcastle.
The product is a cocktail shaker, cleverly marked out to produce the perfect mix along with glasses and two recipe books - one for alcoholic cocktails and one for non- alcoholic cocktails. The shakers have also been used in the school’s maths lessons as an aid to teaching measurement and quantities. The company has sold many of the shakers for gifts and parties.
The group plan to expand and follow up leads with retailers already interested in the product such as TK Maxx and local wine bars.
YENE chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “It is heartening to witness the talent of our young people, as it is evident that the work of YE is needed now more than ever.

“The recent CBI/EDI annual education and skills survey revealed that local employers are concerned with the basic skill levels of school and college leavers. Young Enterprise is superbly well placed to help address the issues raised within these surveys and our plans for the future are clearly aligned with these desires.

“It’s been a great competition and this year’s winning group stood out for showing real gravitas in the nature of the product, the business and the market. I can’t wait to see how they do in London at the National Final.”
The other two finalist companies that were judged on the day include, PrioriTee a company set up by students from Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough. PrioriTee produce charity t-shirts, which do not have charity logos on them, but upon purchase 10% is donated to charity and students from Carmel RC College in Darlington, with their business idea Dream Makers, which aims to make people’s dreams come true.

BUSINESS LEADERS, GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATORS LAUNCH CHARTER TO HELP EVERY YOUNG PERSON SUCCEED

Photo caption: Bridging together. Business leaders on the right and students and teachers on the left are bridged together by council leaders Mick Henry (left) and Nick Forbes as they sign the Young Enterprise ‘Build a Bridge Charter’.


TODAY, (25.05.11) young people across the region joined thousands of other youngsters around the country to launch the Young Enterprise ‘Build a Bridge’ Charter, which calls on local businesses, government and educational establishments to recognise the importance of enterprise education for every young person in Britain.

Students from Walker Technology College and Tyne Metropolitan College gathered on the Gateshead Millenium Bridge to launch the Charter in the North East. They were joined by business leaders Bill Midgley OBE, leading financier Peter Wagstaff from Coutts Bank, Newcastle City Council leader, Councillor Nick Forbes and leader of Gateshead Council, Councillor Mick Henry who were there to support the initiative.

Young Enterprise believes that bringing teachers, employers and employees together with young people to share their skills will help inspire them to become the future business leaders, entrepreneurs and enterprising employees of tomorrow. The Charter calls for action now to equip the next generation with the skills to compete globally and drive the UK’s economic growth in the future.

Young Enterprise director Catherine Marchant said: “It’s vital that young people have the the enterprise and entrepreneurial skills to drive our economic growth as well as to stand out in a very competitive market place and ensure they succeed in the workplace. To do this, we need to work together to build relationships between education and business and we need the Government to help facilitate this.

“This Charter is all about building bridges. We need to bridge the gap in enterprise education in schools by making it a part of the curriculum. We need to build bridges between young people and the business community by encouraging skilled employees to volunteer their time to teach young people about key business and entrepreneurial skills through hands-on experience. Finally, we need to help young people successfully cross the bridge between education and work.”

The Charter aims to help employers dedicate 10,000 voluntary days to enterprise education during 2011/12 and for 500 schools, colleges and universities to commit to a dramatic increase in their employer engagement during 2011/12.

Antony Josephs commercial services partner at Gosforth-based accountancy firm RMT said: “I am ploughing my support behind the Young Enterprise Charter as I strongly believe that only by bringing business and schools together can we help equip young people to be leaders of the future and help to drive economic recovery.”

Young Enterprise will also deliver the Charter to the Government at a Westminster reception to be held in October.

ENTERPRISING TEESSIDE STUDENTS ENTER DUNCAN BANNATYNE’S DRAGON'S DEN

Photo caption: The winning students from Kings Academy (l to r back row) Sam Smitheringale, Richard Hewitson, Alfie Young and James Byrne. (front row l to r) Nick Grubb, Duncan Bannatyne and Jamie Patel.


BBC Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne was in the region yesterday (Monday 17 January) to judge business pitches from enterprising Tees Valley students.

Enterprise education provider Young Enterprise North East (YENE) in conjunction with BBC North East and Cumbria invited four groups of students aged 16 – 18 from schools across Teesside who have set generated their own business ideas through the YENE Company Programme to pitch their ideas to the fiery dragon.

The winning group was, ThermoLucet - students from The Kings Academy Sixth Form College in Middlesbrough with their thermo-chromic iPod and iPhone cases business idea. When heat is applied to the case, it changes colour. They also wish to market their own thermo-chromic paint. The team won train tickets to visit the BBC’s headquarters in London for a tour and a Q&A session with a well known BBC personality.

Duncan Bannatyne said: “My fellow judges and I have been greatly inspired by the students themselves and by the standard of their business ideas. All of the students had potential to enter the real dragon’s den and get investment. We have some great budding entrepreneurs here in the North East and this is a sign of positive things to come for the region.

“It is fantastic that practical enterprise education programmes such as Young Enterprise North East are being delivered in schools and colleges as not only are students learning about business but seeing that they can actually do it on their own and make it work.

“The students from Kings Academy impressed me their innovation and science behind the product. I’m sure they will be a success.”

As well as Duncan, judges included YENE chief executive Catherine Marchant and head of BBC North East and Cumbria Phil Roberts who judged students on the viability of their business plan, marketing strategy and how they will finance the products.

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “It is great to have had the opportunity to work with Duncan Bannatyne and the BBC, who have given the students valuable insights on how they can develop their business ideas and motivate them for future business success. Receiving sound business advice from a truly successful entrepreneur from our region is a wonderful experience for these young people.”

ThermoLucet development manager Nick Grubb said: “The future is very bright for our company. We’ve had a great day today, showing Duncan Bannatyne our business idea was an amazing experience.”

The pitches were filmed by the BBC and will air on various BBC channels.

Other participating schools were:

• Middlesbrough College, Middlesbrough.
Ecocessity
A board game called Ecopoly, which is similar to the classic game of Monopoly but adapted to feature environmentally friendly places. If it is successful they are planning to introduce a range of products including eco-stationary, eco-occasion and eco-guitar pick pouches.

• Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough.
Priori Tee
High end fashion T-shirts where every T-shirt sold, 10% will be donated to charity. The team learnt that 98% of their target market wear T-shirts and feel this would be an ideal way to raise money for charities.

• Carmel RC College, Darlington.
Dream Maker
A service to help people achieve what they want. For example, they surveyed year seven pupils at their school whose biggest desire was to get to know more people at their new secondary school. So the team organised a year seven Halloween disco. Other things they have found is busy people don't have enough time to wrap Christmas presents, so they are offering a present wrapping service.

ENTERPRISING SUNDERLAND STUDENTS BUILD BRIDGES WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES

Photo caption: Students from Sunderland college: Ross Sherriff, David Worthington, Rhys Watkins, Andrew Harvey, Nathan Ainsley and Adam Thompson won the award for the Best Financially Managed Bridge.

YOUNG Enterprise North East (YENE) is breaking ground with the introduction of a new industry specific master class to its range of enterprise education programmes to ensure students are ‘work ready’ when leaving education.

Students aged 16 and 17 from Sunderland College were amongst the first to take part in the first YENE engineering master class that is being run in conjunction with Newcastle-based oil and gas pipeline firm Wellstream and engineering giant British Engines.

The one day engineering master class, which is delivered by engineers, is designed to give students a greater understanding of the world of engineering before they enter the real working environment.

Through a series of activities the students designed, cost and built a bridge. Working in groups they each designed a section of bridge using CAD drawings for specific measurements. They then came together and assembled the whole bridge, which was judged by project engineers from Wellstream.

Wellstream project engineer Chris Gorton said: “The skills that the students develop are teambuilding, problem solving, communication skills. They also gain an understanding of job roles within the engineering industry, to fully equip them for the real world.”

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “The engineering master class is the first in our range of sector specific master classes that we hope to launch throughout the next academic year.

“We have worked together with North East employers and have launched this programme due to the demand for employers wanting to recruit people who not only have academic qualifications but also have life skills and relevant experience. This therefore is step slightly removed from our traditional entrepreneurial activity.

“There has never been a more pressing time for students to gain real work experience to help them get on the career ladder. It’s sink or swim for thousands and the new Young Enterprise engineering master class means graduates will be more equipped to enter the real world.

“Unfortunately academic qualifications on their own no longer provide a passport to a great career, these days you need more than that and participating in the entrepreneurial sector specific master classes is one piece of advice I would give to youngsters hungry for a successful future.”

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS GAIN COMPETITIVE EDGE IN BATTLE FOR UNIVERSITY PLACES

YOUNG Enterprise North East, the region’s leading enterprise education charity, is working with UK examining body OCR to give young people the opportunity to gain up to 40 extra UCAS points through an extra-curricular entrepreneurship programme.

For the first time this year, 15-19 year-olds taking part in the YENE Company Programme will have the option to take one unit that could be worth up to 40 UCAS points, in a brand new Level 3 qualification from OCR.

The Company Programme allows students to set up and run their own real company with the support and guidance of a business mentor.

Points come into effect for entry to higher education from 2011 onwards.

The qualification will be assessed by a single examined unit taken in May each year, designed to fit conveniently around the rest of their activities. The assessment will be based mainly on a case study but will draw upon the experience each candidate has had in the running of their company.

The OCR Young Enterprise Level 3 Certificate can be taken by last year’s Company Programme students as well as this year’s.

The points are relevant for entry into Higher Education for 2011, which means that they are relevant for this year's applications.

The qualification has been awarded the following UCAS points:

Level 3 - UCAS Tariff Points
• Distinction 40 points
• Merit 30 points
• Pass 20 points

Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “We are delighted to offer young people the chance to set up and run their own real company whilst also enabling them to gain extra UCAS points. We want to give young people every opportunity to succeed in this challenging scramble for university places.”

Clare Shuttlewood, OCR’s Head of Business Development, said: “The allocation of UCAS points to this new OCR qualification recognises the quality of what is achieved on the Programme. In this time of competitive HE admissions, OCR is pleased to have worked in partnership with Young Enterprise so that young people can now gain extra credit for their efforts. “

View from a business volunteer...

Two of the region’s fund managers are investing their time in the future of young people by volunteering to run Young Enterprise North East’s (YENE) enterprise education programmes in schools across the region.

Nick Edgar of IP Group plc and Simon Johnson of NEL Fund Managers have worked with YENE for a number of years and are currently involved in the Company Programme working with students aged 15 to 19 from Church High School in Newcastle.

Nick is also a member of YENE’s Volunteer Committee, which is responsible for the strategic involvement of all business volunteers and aims to encourage even more businesses to get involved with enterprise.

IP Group and NEL are both venture capital companies that are managing two of the region’s Finance for Business North East Funds. IP Group manages the Finance for Business North East Technology Fund and is looking to fund and support 60 high growth SMEs in the region over the coming years. NEL is focussed on funding and backing well-established companies from all sectors in the region and has twenty years’ experience in supporting North East businesses.

Nick was first introduced to YENE when he worked with the charity as part of a graduate placement and has remained a strong believer in what Young Enterprise aims to achieve ever since. He said: “My first experience in the classroom was really good; I had a very supportive link teacher and great support from the Young Enterprise team.

“For anyone in business that has the chance to work with young people I’d say grab it with both hands; it is such a good experience, as young people teach you as much as you could ever hope to teach them, not least in terms of their enthusiasm and generation of creative ideas.”

Nick believes that only by business people going into schools and having direct contact with these young people that we as a region will produce an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial workforce of tomorrow.

Simon added: “As the recent Young Enterprise alumni report highlights; YE students are twice as likely to run their own business in the future, and alumni feel that Young Enterprise contributed more than anything else to their development of transferable skills, such as teamwork, decision-making, and self-motivation.

“Both our day jobs see us work with lots of entrepreneurs and I think it is definitely something that should be encouraged from as early an age as possible. Enterprise education taught by no other than real people in the business world gives young people a good, all-round sense of business acumen. I would encourage anyone in the business community to see how they could get involved.”

They have also had a lot of fun along the way Nick adds: “Hurdles that I have had to overcome include battling with broken staple guns as well as cutting wood and painting – a massive achievement for someone who certainly isn’t Mr DIY!”

www.ipgroupplc.com regional website: www.thenortheasttechnologyfund.com
www.nel.co.uk