Young Enterprise North East

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.