Year 7 and 8 try out their Entrepreneurial Skills and Business Brains in the Bright Future Enterprise and Employability Workshops

As part of our extensive Careers and Future Skills Programme, Bright Futures Experience Ltd were once again invited into school to give an Enterprise and Employability Workshop for Year 7 at St Mary’s, followed by a Business Brains and Enterprise Workshop for Year 8 students.

Year 7 identified and practised the skills needed by entrepreneurs. In one strategic activity the students had to decide which team member would take on each of a series of mini challenges, and the order in which they would complete them - with the goal being to score the most points by using their leadership skills, problem-solving, delegating and prioritisation.

The Year 7 students described their experience:

“We learned about risk taking and learning, and being determined to try and try again until you finally succeed. “

“I loved working as a team with people I don’t know.”

“It taught me how to start a business.”

“I learned real life skills and teamwork.”

Year 8's Business Brains and Enterprise workshop focused on the re-branding of a gift card and then manufacturing a display unit to showcase their product during a trading activity. All the teams came up with interesting concepts during the re-branding exercise and it was great to see the students' energy and creativity when manufacturing and selling their products to a strict deadline. The students also showed excellent sales and negotiation skills when they were carrying out transactions.

These tasks not only modelled real-world business concepts and scenarios but also allowed students to practice the skills essential in workplaces, including time management, communication skills and teamwork.

In summarising their experience, they agreed that: 

“I learned how to make a profit and market effectively.”

“It stimulated our creativity and helped us to consider the aspects of advertising, collaboration, and profit.”

“It helped me to understand how to properly communicate with my team.”

“I learned about teamwork, leadership, work abilities, and real-life decisions”

In a quick poll, 94 % of Year 7 and 8 students strongly agreed this was a good event, stating that they had learned valuable skills needed in the workplace.