Member Article

Could your business inspire young entrepreneurs?

Manchester-based social enterprise, Stepping into Business, is looking for businesses in the north west to help inspire future generations of young entrepreneurs through an innovative education programme in schools.

Stepping into Business has already worked with schools across the UK and is seeing future entrepreneurs and business leaders develop in front of their eyes. The programme ticks all the right boxes for corporate social responsibility schemes, and sees interested organisations, working as business angels and mentors, advising school children on different areas of running a business, including: innovation, marketing, finance and production.

Businesses already involved include Northern College of Music, Market Tipping Point Ltd and Croft Corner Guest House and London- based Finncap.

Director of Stepping into Business, Dinah Turner, explains the importance of the work they are doing: “Enterprise, business and life skills are vital, but aren’t covered on the national curriculum. The programme we have developed really put the child in control of their own experience and they are free to try, fail and learn from mistakes. We’re already working with organisations from the financial industry and we’re eager to involve other sectors. For a small sponsorship investment of around £1,000, businesses can support and nurture future generations of entrepreneurs in schools.”

Two schools in the region that have already benefitted from the scheme are Bowdon Church Primary School, Cheshire and Wilmslow Grange, Wilmslow. The programme sees the children working in groups to produce a business plan to promote and sell the product they have created. They then pitch their ideas to the business angels asking for financial backing. The teams are judged on their presentation skills, teamwork, pricing and marketing. After getting positive feedback and the requested investment, the children set about producing, promoting and selling their products ready for market day.

The creative business ideas from Bowdon Church Primary included: ‘Five Mile Flavour’ fudge, butter toffee and cloud cookies made using fresh ingredients from farms within fives miles of the school. ‘Punchy Profit’, a team specialising in cooking sold a Sweet Heaven recipe book, along with cakes, flapjacks and brownies from the book. Plus, team ‘Smart Cup’, inventors of the cup that has a chalkboard on it.

Kate Dempster from The British Council, one of business angels involved with Bowdon Church Primary, was delighted with the levels of creativity she saw: “The quality of the pitching, the attention to detail, the confidence Year 6 showed and the enthusiasm for their products was impressive. As were the samples of delights we were offered to sweeten us up on the day. The profits made from selling the products went to the school’s PTA and several other chosen charities. It was a memorable experience and one that I recommend businesses support.”

The young business brains from Wilmslow Grange came up with: ‘The A listers Team’ finger puppets and masks; The Cuddly Cushions Team sold handmade cushions created from recycled school uniform from lost property. While, Funky Faces were drawings to colour in by a pupil who showed real passion and talent for art and personal growth through his involvement. Comments from the children included “‘I’ve learnt ’always listen to the team boss, make decisions together!”

Mark Unwin, Headteacher of Wilmslow Grange said: “For me, a project like this offers a broad and balanced programme with very high expectations and exciting, fun opportunities for pupils of all ages. This is exactly the sort of project I want Wilmslow Grange involved in. The confidence it has instilled in some of our children is outstanding.”

“The work we do goes beyond inspiring more “little Sir Alan Sugars,” concludes Dinah Turner. “It’s about having fun whilst developing resilience and self-reliance, and helping children find something that they really enjoy and can excel at. We’ve seen several occasions where pupils who were thought to be disengaged make massive leaps and bounds. We’re eager to speak to interested businesses.”

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