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.