EIA news

Entrepreneurs in Action works across 9 London boroughs for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

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Entrepreneurs in Action helped unlock the talent of young people from Hammersmith and Fulham as we welcomed students from Hurlingham & Chelsea, Lady Margaret School, Henry Compton and Burlington Danes at the event hosted by Phoenix High School. The event was buzzing with excitement as students from these five different schools networked with each other and worked in teams with people they had never met before.

Entrepreneurs in Action ran an innovative and engaging ‘Entrepreneur in You!’ programme to challenge students to raise their bar. Sales pitches, trading games, networking exercises and presentations raised the confidence of these young people as they discovered strengths they did not necessarily know they possessed – be it teamwork, leadership qualities or presentation skills!

We look forward to running this event across other London boroughs during March and working with Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to be at the forefront of developing young people’s potential.

Sir William Atkinson, Head Teacher of Phoenix High School-

“This was a splendid learning opportunity for students across five schools in the borough. The students entered with passion and enthusiasm and at the end of the day they were fully functioning mini entrepreneurs. I am sure that the specific learning from the day’s activities will be transferable to the rest of their schooling and wider education. I would like to thank Derek and his team for doing a fantastic job."

Henry Compton Teacher -

"I thought it was an excellent day. The event was well structured and was made a success by the passion and knowledge of the EiA staff."

Lady Margaret School Student -

"I found it very interesting and exciting - it gave me a real sense of being in business."

Lewisham Entrepreneur Academy Raises the Bar at the Lewisham Young Entrepreneurs' Market

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Following the success of The Young Entrepreneurs' Christmas Market, which took place in a vacant shop unit on Lewisham High Street on 19th December last year, Entrepreneurs in Action has organised a further trading event for members of the Lewisham Entrepreneur Academy on 6th March 2010.

Since trading at Christmas, our young entrepreneurs have 'stepped up' to build on the experience they gained at the earlier market, and have been working at a more intensive level to form new businesses for trading in March, really getting to grips with buying at the right price, understanding profit and how important promotion is to get customers through the door.

This included not just Saturdays but also their half term week at the Entrepreneur Academy Holiday club, during which they met professional traders, learnt about promotion and developed a marketing strategy to raise the profile of the event and attract the media's interest.

The event is a fantastic opportunity for members of the public to engage with the young people of Lewisham and shop for a one-off collection of unique and handcrafted products which you will not be able to find elsewhere on Lewisham High Street. This will be an exciting event, with press coverage expected and some serious deals to be had by all! The students will be offering an eclectic array of individual clothing designs, handmade jewellery, inspirational eco-chic accessories and special Mother's day gifts with plenty of bargains to boot - why not come and see what these young entrepreneurs have to offer!

WHAT: The Lewisham Young Entrepreneurs' Market

WHO: 40-50 students from 4 Lewisham Schools aged 13-14

WHERE: Focal area directly outside entrance to Lewisham Shopping Centre, Lewisham High Street

WHEN: 11 am - 2 pm, 6th March 2010

Lewisham Academy prepares for Young Entrepreneurs Christmas Market on Saturday 19th December

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'From Classroom to Marketplace' is the exciting new EiA programme that was launched a month ago as part of the Lewisham Entrepreneur Academy involving students from Catford High, Forest Hill, Sedgehill Secondary and Bonus Pastor Catholic College. Giving up Saturdays over recent weeks to work on their businesses with EiA is testament to the passion and dedication of these students, who will trade at the Young Entrepreneurs Christmas Market on Saturday 19th December.

Over 50 students have been enrolled on the Entrepreneur Academy, which will run over seven months and is supported by the Shine Trust. During a series of Saturday sessions facilitated by EiA, the students have learnt key business concepts such as financial management, business planning and marketing techniques. They have initiated and taken command of their own businesses, where they have realised the importance of teamwork, organisation and resourcefulness as they have successfully stepped up to the challenges before them.

The innovation, experience and commitment demonstrated by the EIA coaches has unlocked the staggering potential of these students as they have blossomed into young entrepreneurs. Undiscovered skills have come to the forefront, aspirations have increased and students have thrived on the responsibility for taking ownership of their businesses. Most importantly, the interactive nature of the sessions has ensured that the students have enjoyed themselves whilst making the most of this unique opportunity to experience a real taste of business.

These Saturday sessions will culminate in the Young Entrepreneurs Christmas Market, where the students' hard work will pay off as they trade with the general public. Young entrepreneurs will be drawing on their new-found confidence and business skills to engage potential customers, whilst experiencing the excitement of doing business in a real situation. If the buzz and enthusiasm created by the simulated marketplace in the 'trading game' that kicked off the Lewisham Academy is anything to go by, the day promises to be an enjoyable experience for all. Please come and support this dynamic, exciting and worthwhile event, part of the proceeds of which will be donated to charity.

EiA works with Croydon College students

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Students at Croydon College have taken part in a series of programmes with EiA with a broader aim to become more entrepreneurial by making the most of their opportunities, whether financial, academic or business based.

The Entrepreneur in You! programme paved the way for a journey of self-discovery, helping draw out undiscovered talent and how it could best be used to find success. Everyone took something positive away from the experience, from discovering an unknown ability to bargain by way of trading exercises, to finding the confidence to present ideas to others at the front of their class.

The Raising the Game programme challenged students to plan for success and develop the mindset with which to achieve these goals. The ability of the EiA coaches to inspire and motivate students to reach their potential resulted in a highly interactive day, where the confidence was found to address ambitions and consider how to seize opportunities in front of them.

The Money in Your Pocket programme encouraged students to think about financial planning, both in personal and business spheres. EiA coaches prompted students to their own realisation that using budgeting, negotiation and business skills could have significant financial benefits.

The combination of programmes highlighted to students how they can achieve their full potential with the right mentality. In the words of one Croydon College student, the combination of programmes "gave me a destination."

HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards 2009

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Derek Browne joined fellow panellists and finalists at the annual HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards 2009 held at the Intercontinental Hotel in London last Monday. The ceremony was addressed by Secretary of State for Business and Innovation, Lord Peter Mandleson who told the attendees that Britain’s prosperity depended on the entrepreneurial spirit shown by the finalists shortlisted for this years awards.

All the shortlisted finalists were given an award recognising their impressive achievement and entrepreneurial spirit shown through setting up a business from scratch. The ceremony culminated in the announcement of this years Start-Up Star for 2009.

The award went to UK Foodhall and its Founder Karen McQuade who was presented with a cheque for £25,000 in prize money and £5,000 worth of Google advertising to help promote her business. UK Foodhall supports British farmers by selling only Assured Meat and is now the biggest supplier of meat to local education authorities in the UK .

The EiA is proud to be a part of these awards yet again, and feel that such events are important for recognising the entrepreneurial spirit alive in the UK. Even within the midst of the worst economic recession since the 1930s, the awards ceremony were testament to our belief that with an entrepreneurial spirit, and good application of business skills, individuals and new start-up businesses can succeed and prosper

Launch of The Lewisham Academy

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The Lewisham Academy kicked off on saturday with an exciting day of programmes led by our EiA coaches.

The Academy is supported by the Shine Trust and will run for seven months. Programmes will be delivered in out of school ours on Saturdays and during half terms. Indeed, it was great to see so many young people attend on the very first day.

Drawing upon the EiA's innovative and well established entrepreneurial coaching techniques, the Academy aims to raise the motivation, aspiration and academic achievement levels of over 50 secondary school students from four schools in the London Borough of Lewisham.

The Academy will give students real experience, and real ownership, of their own business projects, facilitated by the EiA, providing a stepping stone to increased academic achievement.

Keep checking our website in the following weeks for updates and feedback from this exciting programme.

We succeed when we work together...

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Our CEO Derek Browne will be discussing the business of social change at the Annual Chain Reaction event on November 12 at Canary Wharf. Drawing together 500 social leaders, community activisits, policy makers, business leaders and young people from the UK and beyond, the event will seek to develop new ideas for social change.

Derek Browne will be speaking in the session, 'Ideas for Organising the Business of Social Change', held between 15:45 and 17:15 on the main stage in the East Wintergarden. He will discuss how the EiA is facilitating new ways of thinking for social change by challenging the status quo in education. Through the promotion of business and enterprise skills in educational institutions, our young people can develop the correct mindset, self-belief, motivation and entrepreneurial spirit, to raise their game and take on the challenges that business and society will face in the future.

The current recession has created the perfect climate for innovation, entrepreneurism, and new ways of thinking, and is something everyone should be capitalising on. Here at EiA, we are already taking advantage of this opportunity through the delivery of a range of programmes where we will be inspiring young people to unlock their talents and create a new generation of young entrepreneurs for business and society.

The session will be chaired by Rajeeb Dey, Founder & Chairman of the English Secondary Students' Association (ESSA), and will provide an opportunity for Derek Browne to share the experiences and practices of EiA with other like minded professionals and entrepreneurs.

Also on the panel:

Mikel Lezamiz, Director of Co-operative Dissemination, Mondragon Co-operative (Spain)
Julia Clark, Brand Strategy Manager, Tate & Lyle
Jess Steele, Head of Consultancy, Development Trusts Association
Arthur Potts-Dawson, The People's Supermarket

Four Schools in Lewisham build up to the Entrepreneur Academy

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The first programme in the lead up to the opening of our Entrepreneur Academy in Lewisham took place this week at Catford High School. Students from Catford High, Forest Hill, Sedgehill Secondary and Bonus Pastor Catholic College came together to experience a three day programme delivered by the EiA. These young people will form the first intake at our new Entrepreneur Academy in Lewisham, supported by the Shine Trust.

The Three days consisted of two EiA programmes; Raising Your Game and The Entrpreneur in YOU! Students from the four schools were divided into two groups, each group assigned their own EiA coach. Bringing together four different schools provided a wonderful opportunity for the students to make new friends from across the Borough of Lewisham, and built excitement for the forthcoming Lewisham Academy.

The programme culminated in a high energy entrepreneurial game which tested the students leadership and negotiation skills and encouraged them to raise their entrepreneurial bar.

Here id just a small taster of the feedback we received from the programme:

"I loved the trading game because I got to show how I work at business and I did things I never thought i'd do" (Year 9 student from Catford High)

"I learnt to be passionate and if its to be, its up to me!" (Year 9 student from Catford High)

"This was a fantastic journey for the students. I saw quiet, shy people blossom and grow in confidence. They truly benefited working in teams that were not from their own schools and they behaved really well" (Glenis Davis, Teacher at Forest Hill)

New college students kick start the new academic year with EiA

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Last week they met with the EiA coaching team who helped them explore their motivation, looked at what makes people successful, and started a journey to build their confidence and skills to support their college work.

What did the students say they had gained from the day?
How to talk to people and how to mingle
I conquered some fears
Learning about different people and what they've achieved
Learning from failure
Be positive
More confidence from having taken part in the day

This is the start of a Passport to Success programme over coming months

EiA works with Years 6 and 7 in Whitley Excellence Cluster, Reading

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The headlines which greeted the publication of UNICEF’S 2007 report on the well-being of children in 21 industrialised nations made grim reading. ‘British children: poorer, at greater risk and more insecure’, announced The Guardian. The Daily Mail declared, ‘UK bottom of child well-being table’ while the BBC led on ‘UK is accused of failing children.’

But doom and gloom does not change anything and following the publication of the report, EiA was quick off the mark working to finalise programmes, which it was already working on and which tackle the very issues highlighted. One of these programmes, for the CfBT Education Trust, took place in Reading during the summer term in 2007.

The programme was based in schools in the Whitley Excellence Cluster, in the bottom 20% of the most deprived areas in the UK. It addressed issues of poverty, low self-esteem and low aspirations among young people in the area. Through a series of challenges in which local businesses were involved, students from Reading Girls School, the John Madejski Academy and local primary schools came to realise that opportunities of employment and career advancement do, in fact, exist for them in the local community.

Microsoft, a large local employer, set a business challenge about helping the company’s partners understand the cutting edge use of the internet by younger web users, and other groups helped the police and fire services tackle seemingly intractable social problems such as graffiti and ‘mini-moto’ joy riding. One group was featured on BBC South.

“Reading is a great place to live and work and is full of opportunities for those looking for work or thinking about setting up a business. Unfortunately, some young people in areas like Whitley just don’t realise that these opportunities exist for them as well. Having lived their lives in a community of high unemployment and poverty, their aspirations have taken a battering. This programme will rekindle those aspirations and help them fulfil the great potential which they possess” said Derek Browne.

But, there is an additional twist: this project also introduces social responsibility and enterprise to primary schools in an innovative approach to engage them in finding solutions to real community challenges set by key stakeholders like the Police, Fire and Health Services, Sports Development Reading and Groundwork. The local MP Martin Salter, MP for Reading West has also agreed to set a challenge for these students. This part of programme is aimed at giving pupils in Year 6 at primary school, a voice in solving and influencing some of the big issues facing their community.

The students found it fun to work as young businessmen & women and really think through the challenges that they could face as young entrepreneurs. Older pupils in the secondary schools also supported their younger colleagues through the process, and the project looked to develop stronger links between the primary and secondary schools as the children were moving up to their new school in September.

The 3000th CIC

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The CIC Regulator announced the registration of the 3,000th community interest company Entrepreneurs in Action Foundation CIC on 5th June 2009.

Improved opportunities will be made available for these young people to set up their own businesses. The Regulator said they were thrilled that Entrepreneurs in Action Foundation CIC is setting out to help encourage, engage and develop the skills of this sector of society and make a real difference.

For more information on the current work of the foundation click here

The Recession Debates

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Derek Browne, EiA’s CEO, was a keynote speaker and built a powerful case of how such times can in fact stimulate very innovative thinking and create a wealth of opportunities.

The talk followed a theme of "Who wants to be an entrepreneur?" and culminated with an underlying message that success in a recession comes not as a result of a slumdog millionaire style moment but spawns from hard work, innovation and creative thinking. Derek presented the need to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs by unlocking the talents and potential of young people.

Click Here for further information and for a list of other guest speakers.

Top Entrepreneurs 'Invest in the Best'

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Yesterday students from South Thames reached the end stage of the ‘Invest in the Best’ Entrepreneurship and Employability project, having been coached by EiA and their college teachers in developing their business ideas and skills.

Five businesses who were successful in the Trade Fair in January had developed their ideas into a business plan, and faced a panel to bid for a first investment of £1,000 to get going!

The five finalist groups had to develop their ideas and prepare a business plan which they presented to a Dragon's Den style panel consisting of Lorraine Brehme, co-founder of Clipper Teas, John Kennedy, previous Commercial Director of Green and Blacks, Karen Darby, founder of Simply Switch, Sue Rimmer, Principal of South Thames College and Derek Browne, Chief Executive of Entrepreneurs in Action - who then chose the final winner. They were impressed by the quality of the presentations and quality of answers under pressure.

In the end Joshua Moses, Ashley Williams and Stephen Cohane were elated when they were announced the winners. Their business idea, Plug & Play, was to sell studio time, backing tracks and to create MySpace layouts for up and coming artists and producers. The one thousand pounds won will enable the students to take their business idea and make it an actual reality.

Derek Browne Joins Start Up Stars Panel

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Derek Browne, EiA’s CEO joined other judges, past finalists and sponsors on Wednesday 4th March to launch the 2009 Start up Stars Awards.

Derek commented;

“The energy and electricity generated by the passionate new entrepreneurs who come before the panel is amazing. And this year it will be really important to get across their plans for sustainability in these challenging economic times – as well as their entrepreneurial spirit! In our day to day work at EiA we nurture emerging talent in youngsters who are still in education and it is thrilling that there are opportunities such as this once they do get started in business”

Interested in entering for 2009?

This year, the entrepreneur who can convince the judges he or she has the vital X-Factor for success will pocket £25,000 for their new business, courtesy of HSBC.

There will also be £10,000 cheques for the best new Green business putting the environment at the top of its agenda, the best new business set up by a Graduate*, and the best new business achieving Export Success.

You must be running a business that has been trading for less than three years as of 2nd March 2009 or have a business idea* that you intend to launch within 12 months from 2nd March 2009. (*Only open to university students or post-graduate students who have graduated in the 12 months prior to 2nd March 2009.)

www.startupstars.hsbc.co.uk/about-the-awards

IBM helps students ahead of Diploma choices

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Last week seventy students from schools and the FE college in Hounslow came together at IBM’s UK Headquarters at Bedfont Lakes to gain a vivid insight into the IT Industry.

About to decide whether to opt for the new 14-19 IT Diploma being launched, Year 9 and College students heard from British Airways, The Army and the London Borough of Hounslow, as well as IBM, on how their Businesses use IT and how careers develop. They then responded to ‘challenges’ in small project teams, facilitated by an EiA business coach, with winning teams presenting at an evening finale, in front of the Mayor and parents.

One parent commented:

“This workshop in IT for the school children is really instrumental in motivating, channelling students’ aspirations in life. IT has become an indispensable sector that everyone needs to have awareness about its application in day-to-day life. Thanks for this opportunity, we enjoyed this evening and learned a lot too!“

London Met � �From Nothing to Trading in a Day�

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EiA delivered an Enterprise day to 27 Undergraduates of all ages, with a wide range of expectations and aspirations, from a simple interest in the world of enterprise to those with a business plan in mind and aspirations to raise money on the AIM market.

This Programme was the first delivered to undergraduates by EiA as part of a developing relationship with London Metropolitan University. It was commissioned by the Student Services Department, and was the culmination of a week’s activities during Enterprise week.

The skill of the EiA Business Coaches ensured that all participants made a leap forward on the day.

"The event is one of the most valuable events in my life, which has given me a feel of real world trading experience" (Student at London Met)

Young Leaders for Safer Cities

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180 young Black and Asian young 14-15 year olds drawn from across London gathered on a programme run by the Metropolitan Black Police Association, supported by EiA.

EiA was very pleased to be working again on this positive initiative, aimed at working at the heart of London towards making it a safer place, through working directly with young people who can be influencers on the ground.

As one of the BPA observers reported: “The event was very beneficial to the young leaders as they have enjoyed themselves and also learnt a great deal including communication and body language"

Royal Holloway for a 'Classroom to Boardroom'

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Gifted Maths year 12s converged on Royal Holloway for a 'Classroom to Boardroom' residential.

Last week seventy Year 12s, drawn from 30 schools from City Challenge Areas in Greater Manchester, London and the Black Country, came together for an amazing week’s residential summer school. They developed their enterprise skills as well as their maths talent to work on how to adapt the tube system for the 2012 Olympics, whether to use fingerprints or other biometrics for identity cards and how to create an innovative popularity measure for music on the internet.

Lucy Parker, Chair, Talent and Enterprise Taskforce commented;

"The young people had so clearly gained confidence and demonstrated such enthusiasm about handling such a complex problem. I found the mix of business and maths problems build into the London Transport Challenge to be a fascinating example of real life learning."

A student added;

"The best parts were learning how to get along with everyone from different parts of the country. And knowing how maths is important in business. Thanks for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity."

Independent and State schools working together

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One hundred and twenty gifted and talented students from Croydon’s independent and state schools converged at Trinity School to work together on challenges faced by Windsor Leadership Trust, Croydon Council and three other charities.

These Gifted and Talented students are the leaders of tomorrow, and it is important that they develop a sense of social responsibility – this programme was designed to challenge

“Learning about the challenges of leadership and having to present compelling presentations to executive boards is at least as valuable as anything they learn in a normal classroom environment”. This project has been an exciting one to be part of and will, for us at Trinity, provide the foundation for offering similar opportunities to all our students in the future." said Mark Bishop, the Head Trinity School.

Derek Browne profiled in The Independent

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Martin Baker interviewed Derek for the Business section of the Independent on Sunday...

Click Here To Read Article

SERCO partners with EiA

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Last week the second of two pilots commissioned by Serco, one of the world's leading service companies, was run at Southwark College, with 16/17 years olds working on how to tackle the 'digital divide'. Serco fielded 7 executives for the student boardroom presentation, 2 MD's, the HR Director and a mix of other senior personnel.

The panel were very impressed with the quality of both the presentation and the student Q&A. Earlier in the year a different group, from Walworth Academy, developed a recruitment marketing strategy to encourage others to join the company.

The students from year 10 delivered an outstanding presentation, challenging the very impressed executive panel on the design of their marketing strategy.

From Classroom to Boardroom at Trinity School in Croydon.

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100 ‘Young Gifted and Talented’ students from schools in Croydon and Lambeth participated in our programme, ‘From Classroom to Boardroom’ at Trinity School in Croydon.

This was arranged with the support of the national ‘Young Gifted and Talented’ Programme, for which EiA is now an accredited supplier

They were set challenges by:

Croydon Police to design a fund raising event for the innovative Youth Justice Centre in Croydon, first of its sort in Europe

Lambeth Police on how to use new media to improve recruitment of ethnic minorities

London Coaching Foundation on promoting careers in coaching

Croydon Educational Services on how schools can prepare young people with the enterprise skills needed for 21^st century Britain.

Academy students look at Youth Crime

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Last week Year 10s from Walworth, Paddington and Walthamstow Academies came together at Imperial College, South Kensington, to work with EiA coaches on a challenge on how to tackle youth crime.

It was set by London’s Youth Justice Board, facilitated by the Government Office for London. The students highlighted as memorable the strong teamwork developed, one student fed back, ‘Now I know that I can be a good leader’ and the teachers were very positive about how the ‘Gifted and Talented’ youngsters explored their personal skills and styles.

Shanaaz Carroll, Head of Business and Enterprise for Government Office London commented;

“I was particularly impressed with the enthusiasm of the students and their overall commitment to getting engaged in the subject.”

Sports Enterprise week in Kent

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Phil Smith, Director of First Artist Corporation and a top sports and business agent yesterday gave an inspiring talk to 50 talented 14-16 year olds from Castle Community College Deal.

This, as part of a demanding and innovative EiA sports enterprise programme led to a huge leap in confidence reported by every single student.

The objective of the Sports Enterprise Programme was to help students build on their raw sporting talent by developing increased personal and enterprise skills, improved motivation, a better understanding of the business of sport as well as understanding the motivation and psychology required to compete, so that they reach their true sporting potential - “A future built on Sport”

New Employer Engagement for the 14-19 Diploma

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Croydon schools try out a different approach to Employer Engagement for the 14-19 Diploma world ahead EiA delivered 7 week-long Business Challenges in 4 Croydon secondary schools in February and March 2008.

The aim was to give the students a real taste of the business world and to help the Year 8 students make better choices in one year’s time as they would then have the option to select one of the new 14-19 Diplomas, specialising in either Engineering or Creative and Media. There was also a year 10 group who would be making a similar choice for 16+ at level 2 or 3.

Five groups worked on challenges related to the emerging Creative & Media Diploma, and a range of businesses were engaged to set the challenges in fashion, photography and music. The other two related to the Engineering Diploma: one researched industry roles, and the other worked on a task set by EDF Energy.

The project was supported by London Challenge as part of a series of initiatives to test models of employer engagement, one of the key elements of the new Diplomas.

Croydon schools try out different approach to Employer Engagement for the 14-19 Diploma world ahead

EiA delivered 7 week-long Business Challenges in 4 Croydon secondary schools in February and March 2008.

The project was supported by London Challenge as part of a series of initiatives to test models of employer engagement, one of the key elements of the new Diplomas.

A teacher at Edenham High commented;

“The pupils were taught a lot about presenting themselves well which will be very useful for interviews in the future. They learnt a lot about business and working in teams, which they did in practice, which has reinforced the learning. They all gained in confidence and enjoyed themselves enormously”

Croydon schools try out different approach to Employer Engagement for the 14-19 Diploma world ahead

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Last week EiA completed the delivery of 7 week-long Business Challenges in 4 Croydon secondary schools giving students a taste of Employer Engagement in the 14 – 19 Diploma world of Engineering and Creative and Media.

EiA delivered 7 week-long Business Challenges in 4 Croydon secondary schools in February and March 2008.

The aim was to give the students a real taste of the business world and to help the Year 8 students make better choices in one year’s time as they would then have the option to select one of the new 14-19 Diplomas, specialising in either Engineering or Creative and Media. There was also a year 10 group who would be making a similar choice for 16+ at level 2 or 3.

Five groups worked on challenges related to the emerging Creative & Media Diploma, and a range of businesses were engaged to set the challenges in fashion, photography and music. The other two related to the Engineering Diploma: one researched industry roles, and the other worked on a task set by EDF Energy.

The project was supported by London Challenge as part of a series of initiatives to test models of employer engagement, one of the key elements of the new Diplomas

Foyer Federation - 'Big Enterprise Challenge'

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EiA delivered a 1-day Enterprise programme with 21 very keen young people, some of whom had come from as far as Wigan and Exeter!

This Programme was the first delivered by EiA as part of a developing relationship between Entrepreneurs in Action, the Foyer Federation (the umbrella body for UK Foyers) and DSGi (the corporate parent of Dixons, Curry’s and PC World in the UK). DSGi were sponsoring this as part of ‘Switched on Communities’, a 3-year (06-09) community investment programme to support disadvantaged local communities in which DSGi operates. The aim is to provide technologies and training to disadvantaged young people, ‘‘switching them on’ to learning, unlocking their potential and enabling them to take responsibility for their own development as engaged citizens and consumers.

They learnt about Business Enterprise Branding and then participated in an exciting and energetic ‘Trading Game’

East Potential Foyers � �Construct your career�

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This Programme was a first for EiA, developed with East Potential, based in Newham, who run Foyers in East London. Foyers provide accommodation, training and employment opportunities for young people aged 16-24.

The 2-day programme, delivered in November 2007, was developed specifically to work with a small group of 12 young foyer residents, who were considering signing up for the East Potential Construction programme. It was targeted to:

 Look at themselves and their motivation
 Give them an insight from Managers in the Construction Industry, and, through an Enterprise Challenge, get a feel for what the business is about

"It was a very good day – well put on, and the question time was good. Most of the young people were very interested in the subject, very responsive and interacted really well" Representative from construction firm Axis Europe)

Lilian Baylis - 'In the City Challenge' Stage 2

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In October 2007 EiA followed up the very successful ‘In the City’ Business Challenge with nine one-day Enterprise workshops for 215 year 8 and 9 students. These were fun, (extremely) high energy, and enhanced students’ understanding of enterprise. The trading game in particular brought out their creativity, entrepreneurial enthusiasm and focus on the marketplace.

"I have learned how to advertise things and get word around. I have also learnt that I want to open my own Beauty Salon and Spa" (student at lilian Baylis)

Metropolitan Black Police Association - Raising Your Game!

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This Programme was delivered in August 2007 on the final day of a 6 day residential programme launching a roughly 1 year initiative by the Metropolitan BPA YOYAGE team (Voice of Youth and Genuine Empowerment) to create a better relationship between BME (black and ethnic minority) communities and the Metropolitan Police. It aims to develop young community leaders from the 75 year 9 and 10 BME students from London schools. The central aim of the programme was to develop young people with greater social responsibility and leadership capacity.

EiA ran a Raising Your game’ motivational programme

My goals - I need to get them high, my confidence, and my communication skills (Student on the programme)

Hounslow Creative and Media 14 � 19 Diploma Launch

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London Challenge commissioned EiA in the summer of 2007 to support three London Boroughs’ countdown to the launch of the new 14 –19 Diplomas, starting in Sep 2008.

The Hounslow 14-19 Creative and Media Diploma Delivery Group was already very focused, but welcomed EiA’s innovative approach to launching their first Diploma to students and parents. In November 2007 EiA designed and facilitated an afternoon and evening event attended by 120 students, mainly year 9s, joined at the end by their parents. The timing was carefully chosen to help the young people as they were starting to think about subject choices ahead in the New Year, with a new untested option, the 14-19 Diploma, available for the first time.

Hounslow Education and Business Partnership (HEBP) introduced five Business participants - JWT Advertising, Richmond Theatre, BSkyB, The Institute of Contemporary Music and West London Business.

The Creative and Media Industry is not one industry but many, and these 5 businesses were selected to give an insight into five key sub sectors: Advertising, Performing Arts, TV, Music and Art. The Event broke down into five parts:

 An open forum gave all the students an overview of all 5 sectors
 Smaller seminars gave them more depth in one of them
 A Hi Speed Enterprise Challenge competition gave small teams a chance to get a hands on feel for what a task in that industry might look and feel like
 The winners presented to all students teachers and parents
 Key consortium members, introduced by Clive Lissaman of the Sector Skills council, Skillset, then explained how the Diploma could lead to careers in these industries

“I feel it is positive for businesses to get involved in these events, it is always good to feel you have given something back, and it is clearly appreciated by those running the day. Very satisfying” (David Kerr from JWT)

Employability day at Newham VIth form College

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At Newham VIth form college (the NewVic) at Easter 2007 we ran an “Employability day”, on behalf of the sponsor, The Windsor Fellowship. Four businesses, Marks and Spencer, EDF Energy, Volo TV and London Met University, participated to give the students insights on what employers look for in applicants, and how to focus their long term career options in an Open forum, followed by smaller seminars.

The 90 A level and B Tec Students then participated in an energetic hands-on Hi-Speed Enterprise Challenge. From this 30 students were selected to join an Easter Vacation Business Challenge week. All the students were studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects, and all the business executives we engaged with had a STEM focus, a key driver for the Windsor Fellowship, with support also coming from the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council (East London).

A Business Challenge week in Bexley

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‘From the classroom to the boardroom’ sums up much of what EiA’s work is about. 120 Year 10 students from St Mary’s and St Joseph’s school in Bexley discovered first hand the effect that EiA can have on their academic & career aspirations.

The students were divided into groups and each given a separate business challenge by a different organisation. On the last day of the challenge, the young people faced the final hurdle of travelling to the City to present their ideas in the boardrooms of the respective organisations – Bexley Council, Lloyds TSB, Government Office London, Jobs Go Public, Public Technology and EiA as a business in its own right!

There was a dramatic increase in level of confidence in nearly 80 per cent of the students, and in their willingness and ability to work as part of a team. Our objective of opening these young people’s eyes to their own potential and encouraging them to pursue their dreams definitely seems to have been accomplished.

EiA link with Jamie Oliver's Fifteen foundation

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Derek Browne was closely involved during the series of Jamie’s Chef, broadcast on Channel 4 in early 2007, during which he helped finalists prepare their business plans and presentations to the trustees of the Foundation:

“I was employed by Fifteen Foundation to be the 4 finalists’ business mentor and coach over a 6 week intensive programme. My main responsibility was to get the graduates ready to understand what went into a business plan and then work with them to write their own plan and finally present it to a panel of investors including Jamie at the end of the programme. I spent one to two days a week with the graduates. It was an extremely challenging role, but I think the results will demonstrate that young talented people from challenging backgrounds can get into business.”

The winner, Aaron Craze, started running The Cock in Beazley End, Essex in November 06 and was quickly awarded an AA Rosette.

EiA Moves into Further Education Colleges

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The autumn term in 2006 saw EiA take the 1 day “Raising your Game” motivational programme to both Greenwich & Lewisham FE Colleges in December. It was designed to help the 90 students succeed at college and after, and to motivate them to aim to be self-starters, and raise their game to achieve their dreams, ambitions and goals.

EiA coached them on the basics of success, networking, self-analysis and, perhaps most crucially, the art of communication, to improve their personal day-to-day performance in and out of college.

We know from our evaluation that the vast majority of participants felt a much greater sense of motivation & direction after the programme.

“It was very interesting - down to the energy and obvious commitment of the team; they engaged the students” (teacher at Greenwich College)

Lilian Baylis - 'In the City Challenge'

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The “Apprentice”style scheme, called ‘In The City Challenge’, offered young people the chance to learn in the workplace. The project was designed to raise students’ aspirations whilst teaching them new and relevant skills. Over seven weeks, different groups of 25-30 students spent a week in an office in Holborn. The scheme was modelled on Swedish inner-city “Kunskapsskolan” schools, which are based in office blocks. In this office environment, student learning is stimulated by a mixture of independent study, teamwork and formal lessons.

Students from Lilian Baylis Technology School, in the London Borough of Lambeth, ranged in age from 11 – 15 years and included marginalised and disaffected young people as well as students identified as gifted and talented.

Each Monday the participating company set the students a business challenge, such as how to protect personal identity on the internet or how to engage more young people in politics. For the next four days the students researched the challenge, assisted by EiA coaches. At the end of the week the students presented their solutions to senior managers from the company. The companies involved included EDF Energy, RM Plc, Place Group, Garlik, a new on-line personal identity company and PublicTechnology.net,

The project attracted the attention of “Apprentice” winner Tim Campbell who visited the students in their Holborn office and was impressed by their ideas.

Some of the young people’s ideas have been adopted by the companies. The students developed self-belief, and skills in presentation, team working and problem solving.

“The students have come back with a far greater self belief, because they have achieved something quite amazing.” (Gary Phillips, Headmaster at Lilian Baylis Technology School)

Inner City Students Challenged at Cambridge University

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Th Specialist Schools Trust funded an innovative project idea developed by EiA to take a group of inner city students to Cambridge University over the Easter holidays for a residential entrepreneurial camp.

Students from 3 London schools - Parkview Academy, Stoke Newington High School and Central Foundation School for boys - were invited onto the programme, each selecting several students to send.

Once at Cambridge the students were quickly placed into the world of business and work began almost immediately. After 2 days of sessions covering a variety of topics, from networking skills to marketing and personal finance, the students were ready for their business challenges.

The challenges were set by both Barclays Bank and Angel Trains. Students were divided into four groups so that two teams competed against each other to present the best solution to the problems set by the businesses. Marketing challenges were chosen by each of the businesses, requiring the students to thrash out what they thought both companies needed in order to attract a younger clientele.

Over the course of a day, the students worked in groups to research and design promotional materials for their new products, to be presented the following day. The presentations - a mix of power point presentations and role play - were made to an audience of 50 and a film crew captured the experience. The feedback was extremely positive, it being universally agreed that the presentations were of a very high standard.

Stockwell Park School take part in enterprise programme

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EiA works with Lambeth school to raise students aspirations through enterprise programme.

EiA was funded to deliver an innovative 3 term project working with a combined group of students from year 9 and 10 over 3 terms from Stockwell Park School. The highlight of the programmes was the succesful funding of all 5 groups who presented their business ideas to a panel of independent professionals, ranging from an accountant, to the head of Enterprise at the Government Office for London.

EiA encouraged the current generation of school children to be more enterprising. The children formed teams and worked through a programme covering the history of entrepreneurship from the industrialism of monks to the present day.

The group learned the principles of advertising in a session with PR guru and former chairman of top PR branding specialist QBO Bell Pottinger, Trevor Morris. The students were split into groups and tasked to develop a modern day advert around the enterprising skills of the monks.

The weekly course started before school. It covered a number of important business areas including business planning, financial management, marketing, and business development. They were also supported via Business Incubator Sessions , which took place after school hours.

During the early stages of the programme it was clear that many of the "disaffected" pupils involved in the project were shining and the school has decided to keep all groups together as a result of the progress EiA made with them.

The groups participated in a "live" pitch to an independent panel, which included London Accord Chief Executive, Mike Richardson. The winning group from the advertising competition, which took place between the students, had the opportunity to spend a half day at one of the UK's leading advertising companies. They presented their winning advert to the Chairman in the board room of Advertising Agency , Bartle, Bogle, Hegarty (BBH). They also got the chance to spend the afternoon at the agency to see how a live advert is put together.

Subsequently three groups were awarded £500 each to turn their concepts into real commercial opportunities.

Ending Exclusion Through Entrepreneurship

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Eia was one of 22 successful bids of 440 applications for funding under a Gordon Brown initiative for this innovative entrepreneurial programme. There has been increasing concern and focus by both government and local authorities about effective engagement strategies for young people from the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) group. 'Ending Exclusion Through Entrepreneurship' was developed by EiA, and engaged a group of young people from the Southwark area of South London over 12 weeks.

The EiA led coalition was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry to work with young adults aged 16-25 at risk of social exclusion to develop and put into practice their business ideas. The project aimed to legitimise business concepts encouraging the young people to be law abiding, value adding members of the economy.

The students were encouraged to follow up their ideas after the programme:

One student's media business won a contract to film a regional Duke of Edinburgh concert.
Two students showed effectrive networking - after pitching their business idea to a DJ from a London based radio station owned by Capital Radio they were invited to join the DJ on prime time breakfast radio and pitch their business to London. They also took the opportunity to make contact with Ms Dynamite and MOBO founder Kanya King. As a result of the work on the programme, the young adults received a nationally recognised qualification (The Life Skills Duke of Edinburgh Award, Bronze Level) and earned the right to present their idea to one of the UK's leading entrepreneurs from the music business.

Birmingham enterprise, DfES pathfinder

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EiA was the lead party in coordinating and running the business challenge support of this project. EiA was responsible for developing, compiling and submitting the bid to the Department of Education and Skills, making it the biggest pathfinder project in Britains

As a result of the project over 800 students each year in 2004/2005 across 10 schools in Birmingham had the opportunity to develop their individual enterprise skills and receive a recognised certificate as a result of their efforts. They also forged the beginnings of potentially lasting links with key businesses.

"It raised awarness of what enterprise means in a truly practical and meaningful way. It brought real life problem solving situations into the classroom and made the students respond in a very adult way" (Ruth Harker, Head Teacher at Bournville School)

"I was able to stand up and have more confidence in myself and I had fun" (student at Bournville School)