Good Practice: How pupils secure business acumen

Project
Primary Inspiration through Enterprise

Funding
The project was kick-started with about £2,000 from local businesses and schools

Background
A common complaint from business and industry is that young people leave school with limited understanding of enterprise and a lack of employability skills. Most interventions designed to address this skills shortage are aimed at secondary school pupils and school leavers. "But there is very little focus on primary age pupils," says entrepreneur Ammar Mirza, founder of Asian Business Connexions (ABC).

"That's where we should be starting because by the time someone leaves school, they have already formed their aptitude and attitude," he says. He has championed this concept via the Newcastle-based Primary Inspiration through Enterprise scheme, supported by ABC and social housing providers Your Homes Newcastle and Leaze Homes.

Action
The project, which launched in February last year, links primary pupils with local businesses. Mirza says the aim is to work with the cornershop at the end of the road and estate agent around the corner to foster a sense of community.

So far, it has focused mainly on retail, with pupils producing products they can sell. The idea is shopkeepers donate a shelf to their local school, but the pilot phase has taken this one step further by securing a whole shop. The former hairdressing salon in the Walker area of Newcastle was transformed in eight weeks to open in time for Christmas last year. Four local primary schools were involved.

"The shop is an extension of the classroom," says Mirza, who says activities are supported by classwork with pupils learning budgeting skills in maths lessons, marketing in English and making products in art. Local accountants and solicitors come into school to run interactive workshops. Parents are also encouraged to take part and the hope is adult volunteers can gain qualifications that may help them back into work.

The goal is to raise young people's aspirations and give them a better idea of what they would like to do in the future, says Mirza. "Above all we're trying to build resilience," he says. "We're trying to ensure young people are better equipped to deal with problems and make appropriate decisions."

Outcome
About 120 pupils have been actively involved in the project, with many more taking part in the launch and promotion events. In the week before Christmas, the shop generated £800 to £900 in sales from goods that cost about £150 to £200, with profits reinvested in the scheme. The shop will re-open for Easter and the aim is it will eventually be a permanent presence.