Rotherham Ready
Monday, February 8, 2010
What are they doing? Rotherham Ready enterprise project works with pupils aged between four and 19 at primary and secondary schools in the local area. The scheme aims to help children and young people to develop enterprise skills and business acumen.
What does it involve? Rotherham Ready puts local businesses in touch with schools. The businesses and schools then work together to organise activities such as enterprise projects, business mentoring, networking events for pupils and employers, and question-and-answer sessions.
What do the teachers think? Paula Harmer, head teacher at Thorpe Hesley Junior School, says involving local businesses has many benefits for pupils.
"We need to be opening children's eyes to the diversity and possibilities in the world of adult work," she explains. "To do it effectively and in a way that is meaningful and long lasting we need the help of people who are already in the workplace. We need help from local businesses, to show children what they can do if they are enterprising."
Anything else? Jackie Frost, project manager for Rotherham Ready, believes the scheme is an effective way to teach young people about the recession.
She says: "It's not just about becoming an entrepreneur, it's about being equipped with the skills to be enterprising, such as being able to adapt to a changing economic climate."
