”The Company Programme allows students to set up and run their own business. They have to register their company and sell shares and it gives them a good understanding of what’s involved in setting up in business. Company Programme fits very well with the requirement for Enterprise Education and it breaks down potential barriers to considering setting up in business.
”It helps develop certain skills such as decision-making and leadership and gives students experience of presentations and problem solving. These skills make students more self-reliant; they become risk-takers and use their own initiative. It’s not all about making a profit, some of the best experiences our students have had have been where they have learnt from mistakes they’ve made.
”They take personal responsibility for the company and with that comes a level of uncertainty. They learn to limit risks through planning and process evaluation which in turn gives them more confidence and self-reliance. It’s that positive experience that benefits students more than making a profit or winning a trophy.”
Mike Chew, Head of Business - St. Mary’s Catholic College
”The Young Enterprise Team Programme is specifically designed to help students who have difficulty learning to achieve through having fun running a company. The skills that are required are delivered in a very hands-on way and very closely map the key skills. The students have been using Excel and Word to complete finance and production requirements and have been using email and the web to locate and contact suppliers. They’ve been involved with finance and banking and have learnt about what needs to be done to fulfil an order.
”There are various levels within the class and it’s easy to find a role for everyone. There are jobs for every ability so the programme incorporates all levels. The programme also allows students freedom to change roles to find a role that suits their ability and interests.
”One of the main benefits is that students learn essential life skills. For example banking. It really is ‘learning by doing’. All the students in the group want to get jobs after they finish school, this programme gives them a great knowledge of ‘real life’. The way that the students work together is amazing, they work together to learn in an environment where they can ask questions without feeling embarrassed. The programme really encourages kids to use their strengths. We set fluid targets and the kids set their own levels to achieve those targets as a group.
”I would definitely run Team Programme again.”
Fran Swainston, Deputy Head - Iffley Mead School
”Young Enterprise programmes offer a vocational enterprise route for students, even ahead of the 14 to 19 curriculum changes. The ‘learning by doing’ principle and the link with business and the real world of work helps students to develop skills that are relevant to the workplace and understand them in that context.
”As well as general skills and attitudes, students who run a Young Enterprise Company get to experience a range of industries and begin to understand the different skills and knowledge required for different fields of work.”
”Our Company Programme students take the OCR Young Enterprise qualification because it’s something extra they highlight when they take the next step after GCSEs either to apply for 6th Form College or for a job. It makes them stand out from other applicants because it shows they have set up a business and have had experience of the real world. Our Head has also found that the students who sit the Young Enterprise exam achieve higher GCSE results than predicted which we attribute to the time management and discipline that is learnt as part of the Company Programme. Those students tend to set their sights higher.”
Mary Rodgers, Head of Technology - Turves Green Girls’School & Technology College
