Students set up a 'business'

Posted 13 April 2006

SAVVY students from schools in Sandwell have been testing their business and enterprise acumen in Shropshire.

Pupils from eight schools in the area spent a day at Harper Adams University College learning how to set up, and run, a successful business.

Almost 150 year 10 students took part in ‘Pizza Panic’, a scheme run by Pam Whitehouse, lecturer in the Business, Management and Marketing Group.

Organised by the Sandwell Education Business Partnership (EBP) and Harper Adams, the three-day event is part of a key-stage three combined graphics and business studies course looking at how a business would be run and operate the financial aspects of it.

The group separates into teams and they are responsible for setting up their own pizza business, creating a brand and monitoring the income and expenditure.

Mrs Whitehouse said: “The students are well engaged and are working really hard. They are very keen to understand what needs to be done to make their business as successful as possible.

“Coming to Harper Adams for the event also enables the students to experience a taster session of higher education.”

All students taking part received certificates and the most successful teams picked up medals and prizes.

Peter Coley, Business Enterprise Consultant for Sandwell EBP, said: “The students were able to develop their knowledge and understanding of work and enterprise through the university college and Sandwell EBP.