News: Enterprise advisers linking Rotherham schools with business

Rotherham's Mears branch and faith school St Pius in Wath are the first to be officially "matched" in an exciting programme to help businesses and school work together.

Morrison Facilities Services, the company that maintains council properties in Rotherham, was acquired in 2012 by Mears, the UK's leading provider of social housing repairs and maintenance services. The company began a £60.5m contract to maintain council properties in Rotherham in 2010 to repair and maintain 13,000 properties in Rotherham North, Rotherham South and Wentworth North.

The national Enterprise Advisers programme, sees volunteers from the world of work and business team up with schools to increase the quality and quantity of careers and enterprise learning for young people.

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The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was one of five regions nationally which took part in a pilot phase of the programme last year. Six schools in Rotherham took part, taking time to review their careers and enterprise learning and increasing the number of employer encounters that young people experienced.

The pilot was a huge success and the scheme is being rolled out nationally with support from the national Careers and Enterprise Company, an organisation launched by the government to help schools link with more businesses.

The Enterprise Advisers programme will link schools with a credible and well connected professional or business person who helps increase the quality and quantity of careers and enterprise learning.

Andrew Chambers, general manager at Mears (pictured, centre), said: "We are very proud to be supporting this important programme. Helping broaden young people's horizons and improve their skills and aspirations is crucial for them personally, and for the future of Rotherham. We would urge other businesses and schools to get involved."

Joanne Burke, enterprise coordinator at St Pius (pictured, left), added: "Careers and enterprise learning helps motivate young people with learning because they start to imagine where school and qualifications can take them, and this impacts on their attitudes towards education."

All secondary schools, special schools and colleges in Rotherham and the Sheffield City Region have been invited to join the programme, and business people and professionals are being simultaneously recruited to form the Enterprise Advisers Network.

Jackie Frost is enterprise projects manager at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and is helping manage the programme for the town. She said: "It is fantastic that Mears are giving their time to build a partnership with St Pius to benefit the schools and pupils, and to build better links between education and the world of work. We would love to hear from other business people who are interested in giving some time, either as an Enterprise Adviser, or as someone who might visit schools to give talks in assemblies, tutor time or to work on curriculum projects."

Sheffield City Region Enterprise Adviser Network website

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News: Clifton Ready Hub website is launched

Enterprising Rotherham students have been learning new skills by creating a new website to share their own projects.

The Clifton Ready Hub is part of the Rotherham Ready initiative which supports children and young people to take part in enterprise activities in their schools. It is made up of four primary schools in the Clifton area of Rotherham and there are three other Ready Hubs across Rotherham.

The Clifton Ready Hub website was created by the primary children from Herringthorpe Infants, Herringthorpe Juniors, St. Ann's and Badsley Moor Lane Primary Schools, working with staff and students from Rotherham College.

Computing Level 3 students from the college went in to the schools and spent time with both the students and staff, teaching them how to maintain the website by adding and changing the content. The students all worked closely together resulting in a website that students, from age 5 to 11 years, can manage themselves.

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Launching the website at the college's Wharncliffe Restaurant, The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr John Foden, said: "Projects like the Clifton Ready Hub website are inspiring and a great example of internet technology having very strong and positive effects on bringing people together, across the ages and increasing skills and giving us an enterprising outlook online."

The Hub project wasn't part of the teaching programme at the College for the students; they did this in their own time to help develop valuable skills that they don’t get from learning in the classroom by interacting with others that aren't as knowledgeable in web design.

Ken Merry, head of the Business, Computing and Education Departments at Rotherham College, said: "This website is testament for all the hard work and effort that not only have our students put in, but the students from the primary schools have done. I think it has been mutually beneficial project."

The Clifton Ready Hub website will now be used to share successes within the schools with the full responsibility being given over to the schools, however the College will be there to support if anything is needed.

Jackie Frost, enterprise projects manager at Rotherham Council, said: "We are delighted that the schools involved in the Clifton Ready Hub have worked in partnership with Rotherham College to create a website which will allow pupils to showcase the progression of enterprise activity across this learning community. This project has provided a platform where students, from the age of 5 to 19 years, have been able to share and learn new skills by working as a team towards a common goal.

"The website is just the start of the relationship between the Clifton Ready Hub schools and Rotherham College and we look forward to seeing their how their future collaborations develop."

Clifton Ready Hub website
Rotherham Ready website
Rotherham College website

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News: Rotherham Ready for Global Entrepreneurship Week

This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), the world's largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship, and Rotherham Ready and Rotherham Youth Enterprise are running a number of events to help young people become an enterprising employee or budding entrepreneur.


Rotherham Ready is an award-winning enterprise education programme that is being replicated across the UK and is an official partner of Global Entrepreneurship Week. It supports schools across Rotherham to develop a 4-19 enterprise entitlement meaning that young people develop the skills and qualities they need to face the future with confidence.

"Spinning out" into national social enterprise, Ready Unlimited, it has won international acclaim after helping transform school performance by showing teachers how to embed enterprise learning approaches in lessons for pupils as young as four years old.

Rotherham Youth Enterprise provides self-employment support and advice for young adults in the area. They encourage young people (up to the age of 30) to explore business ideas and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to be their own boss.

Today will see the winners of the Rotherham Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards announced at the Local Employment Advisory Forum (LEAF). The awards, now in their ninth year, cover all sectors and look to recognise the achievements of business owners under the age of 30. Taking place at Magna, the LEAF event is being organised by Rotherham Council and housing maintenance contractor, Mears.

Businesses will get the opportunity to speak to young people and job seekers about the employment opportunities they may have within their companies, and the employability skills and qualifications needed to access them. Those seeking to improve their skills and receive advice on returning to the employment market are invited to come along to the Rotherham LEAF to obtain practical support and find out more about careers.

The event will focus on young people for the morning session and adult jobseekers and college students in the afternoon.

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With this year's theme of "Get Connected," Global Entrepreneurship Week sees millions of people in 150 countries participate in bootcamps, pitch competitions, networking events, policy roundtables, mentoring sessions and more.

In Rotherham, GEW will see the culmination of the "Doing the Biz Team Challenge 2014" with students aged between 16-19 studying Art & Design/ Fashion, Business and Enterprise in Rotherham schools and colleges, tasked by Rotherham Youth Enterprise to design an image that can be printed on to a T-shirt, prepare a business plan that outlines theirs ideas for running a T-shirt design business and make a short presentation to a panel of judges from business and enterprise across Rotherham.

Another challenge running in Rotherham sees schools and colleges connected with a business from a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) related industry to work together to design a product or service.

Individual schools are also getting involved, including Anston Greenlands who are hosting a "Filey Festival" and Winterhill's ready hub will see local schools come together to plan their Christmas Fairs.

Rotherham Ready website

Images: GEW

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News: Royal appointment for Rotherham enterprise project

HRH The Duke of York hosted a meeting at Buckingham Palace this week to be given an update on the progress of the world-leading enterprise education programme, Ready Unlimited, that began life in Rotherham schools.

Ready Unlimited started out as a local authority initiative to tackle low levels of ambition and achievement in deprived Rotherham schools and has won international acclaim after helping transform school performance by showing teachers how to embed enterprise learning approaches in lessons for pupils as young as four years old.

Catherine Brentnall, managing director, and Jackie Frost, non-executive director at Ready Unlimited, were invited to the capital yesterday to update Prince Andrew on the Rotherham model which is now replicated by not-for-profit social enterprise, Ready Unlimited and works with 449 schools across the UK, encouraging pupils to be entrepreneurial but in doing so, aims to develop their learning behaviours, engagement in school and attitudes and expectations for the future.

The Duke supports providers of entrepreneurially focused education and visited Herringthorpe Infants school in Rotherham in 2012 (pictured), where he met teachers, pupils and staff involved in the award-winning education programme.

Jackie Frost, non-executive director at Ready Unlimited, said: "I was there when HRH the Duke of York visited Rotherham. It was such a momentous occasion for the children and everyone who has been involved with Rotherham Ready over the years. He kindly invited Ready Unlimited to update him on the progress made since "spinning out" of the local authority 12 months ago. I'm so proud to be involved!"

No stranger to Buckingham Palace, Jackie was there in 2009 to receive her Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion - the UK's most prestigious award for individuals helping to unlock Britain's entrepreneurial talent.

Ready Unlimited website

Images: Ready Unlimited

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News: Lord Young commends Rotherham for enterprise education

The Prime Minister's Enterprise Advisor, Lord Young has commended the approach to enterprise education in Rotherham where teachers inspire pupils as young as four to learn more about the world of work and business.

The Enterprise for All report follows on from reports for the Prime Minister on growing micro businesses and supporting the start-up and development of small business.

Lord Young (pictured on a visit to Herringthorpe Infants School in Rotherham last year), credits Ready Unlimited with providing a "holistic approach to enterprise, which embeds the ethos and practice from head teachers, teachers, schools and the wider local community."

The report, published today, adds: "I would commend Rotherham Ready [the first programme started by the Ready Unlimited team] for the programmes they have introduced into their primary schools that make a game out of the world of work, but broaden their charges' minds at the same time.

"I have seen models like Ready Unlimited start in Rotherham and spread to Hull, London and Derbyshire. A process of engagement has already begun between some LEPs and their local authorities to propagate the Ready Unlimited model in their areas and I hope this can extend to more schools across all LEP areas."

Ready Unlimited started life as a local authority initiative to tackle low levels of ambition and achievement in deprived Rotherham schools and has won international acclaim after helping transform school performance by showing teachers how to embed enterprise learning approaches in lessons for pupils as young as four years old.

In practice at Herringthorpe Infants School, which is in an area of deprivation, staff have harnessed enterprise to create a culture of high expectations and challenge. Foundation year children sell eggs laid by the chickens they look after, Year 1 children design packaging for the eggs and Year 2 children calculate the costs and profits of the enterprise. This brings different elements of the curriculum to life and encourages children to develop their creativity, initiative and problem-solving skills from their very first day at school.

The Rotherham model, now replicated by not-for-profit social enterprise, Ready Unlimited which works with 449 schools across the UK, and encourages pupils to be entrepreneurial but in doing so, aims to develop their learning behaviours, engagement in school and attitudes and expectations for the future.

Catherine Brentnall, managing director at Ready Unlimited, said: "Lord Young's report is a welcome sign that the government is championing enterprise as a critical part of a 21st century education for young people.

"We are keen that educators understand that developing enterprising teaching and learning is a powerful vehicle for school improvement, creating a culture of challenge and high expectations. Schools involved in our programmes show how developing connections between the classroom, the real world and the world of work and business enables young people to see where education can take them, and improves their motivation and attitudes towards learning."

The Rt Hon the Lord Young of Graffham PC DL became Secretary of State for Employment in 1985 and in 1987 became Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade. He was executive chairman of Cable and Wireless pic from 1990 to 1995 and then chairman of Young Associates Ltd, which invests in new technologies.

Ready Unlimited website

Images: Ready Unlimited

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News: Rotherham pupils make £5 blossom for charity

Enterprising pupils at a Rotherham school took a £150 investment loan from a local business and turned it into £206 profit for charity.

Pupils at Wingfield Academy were given a loan of £150 from The Source Skills Academy as part of the Rotherham Ready Make £5 Blossom project. The project gives businesses the opportunity to support business and entrepreneurship education in local schools by investing £5 per pupil for a class of 30 children. The pupils then decide how they are going to invest their loan to make a profit, and where they would like the profits to go once the £150 investment is repaid. 

The team of five pupils from Year 8 decided to produce exciting gifts and produce around the "American Dream" theme. After sourcing the materials they made an assortment of products including cards, popcorn and brownies which were sold at Rotherham market; the school fair and also to staff at The Source Skills Academy.

George Elliott, account manager at The Source, supported the investment by acting as a mentor to the group, listening to their ideas and giving advice when requested. George said: "The greatest achievement the students can take away from this project is their fantastic team-work. It was a brilliant opportunity for them to listen to each other's opinions and to make decisions between them; a great skill for their future careers."

Jayne Twigg, charity coordinator at the school, added: "It's been great working with The Source; the project has been a wonderful experience for the pupils and it's given them a chance to use their maths skills in a real world application. The project encouraged them to think about the costs of materials and how to achieve maximum profit margins in order to make the most money for their charities and they should be really proud of the money they've raised."

At the end of the project, the team attended a presentation at Rotherham Town Hall where they were presented certificates for their achievement by the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor John Foden, and the Mayoress of Rotherham, Kath Foden. They proudly returned their £150 loan to Dianne Wainwright from The Source Skills Academy and donated the £206 profit to Rotherham Talking Newspaper, Cancer Research UK and Oxfam.

Developed from Rotherham Ready and now a social enterprise, Ready Unlimited develops teachers' skills and confidence to create enterprising and entrepreneurial learning for all children.

The pioneering work in Rotherham, were pupils as young as four are inspired to learn more about the world of work and business, was recently featured in a government report called "Education System fit for an Entrepreneur," exploring best practice across the UK and around the world.

Catherine Brentnall, managing director at Ready Unlimited, said: "We are pleased that the report has captured the potential and impact of enterprise in education, and highlights our approaches – supporting educators to value and develop enterprise learning and culture, and creating an enterprise entitlement – as best practice.

"This report shows that enterprise is a critical part of a 21st century education and it is good to see a cross party group recognise this. We look forward to seeing how these recommendations are acted upon to make high quality enterprise education an entitlement for all."

Ready Unlimited website
The Source website

Images: The Source

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News: Enterprising Rotherham schools raise £6,000 for Rotherham Hospice

Staff and students have found innovative ways to raise £6,000 for charity as part of The Rotherham Hospice Enterprise Challenge.

Sheffield-based solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, provided £50 loans for 48 teams and business mentoring, but it was up to the students to come up with enterprising ways of turning the initial investment in to much, much more for the Rotherham Hospice.

Six school groups were chosen as finalists and presented their fundraising projects to a panel of judges at a recent event at the Carlton Park Hotel. The challenge was organised by Ready Unlimited, the Rotherham-based service that supports educators to embed enterprise and entrepreneurship across the curriculum.

Jackie Frost of Rotherham Ready, Elaine Hyde from the Carlton Park Hotel, Mark Allen from Irwin Mitchell and Colin Heywood-Campbell representing Rotherham Hospice, all had a tough job in deciding the winning team from each of the three categories.

Jackie Frost of Rotherham Ready, said: "This has been a really difficult decision, there have been so many brilliant ideas. There was only half a point between the winners and runners up in the Key Stage 2 category."

St Bede's Primary School won the Key Stage 1 category, raising £197 by holding a Christmas Fayre. Charlie, a pupil at St Bede's said that the hardest part of the project was "standing up in front of everyone to present."

Monkwood Primary School took home the prize for the Key Stage 2 category, having designed, hand made and sold Memory Books in school, raising £142.50 so far. Due to the success of their enterprise, children are still receiving orders and believe this will be an ongoing business within school.

Finally, Dinnington Comprehensive School won the Key Stage 4/5 category with a car washing team who triumphed by raising £180 and demonstrating their negotiating and influencing skills by receiving donated washing products from local mechanics.

All of the schools involved in the Hospice Enterprise Challenge proved to be great fundraisers, but a special award for the most money raised was given to Coleridge Primary School who raised a staggering £474.

The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers.

Ready Unlimited website
Rotherham Hospice website

Images: Ready Unlimited

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News: Inspiring trainee teachers

100 initial teacher training students from Sheffield Hallam University have been given the inspiration for an enterprising approach to teaching and learning by Ready Unlimited, the award-winning Rotherham enterprise education programme.

Ready Unlimited develops teachers skills and confidence to create enterprising and entrepreneurial learning for all children, from as soon as they start school.

Evolving from Rotherham Ready and originally established as a council-run project by Rotherham Council in 2005, Ready Unlimited became an independent not-for-profit social enterprise last year.

In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, Ready Unlimited has developed an ITT Enterprise Enhancement course which is now offered every year to trainee primary and early years teachers in order to develop an enterprising approach to teaching and learning.

The training sees all trainees experience a range of practical and theoretical activities which they can replicate in the classroom as part of their course placements. Throughout the day, trainees explored the definition of enterprise education, how enterprising skills and attitudes could be developed through the curriculum and took part in an entrepreneurial challenge.

Ready Unlimited has worked in partnership with the university for the last five years and worked with 700 trainee teachers, developing their skills, knowledge and confidence to integrate enterprise and entrepreneurship into the curriculum.

Naomi Cooper, senior lecturer in the Department of Teacher Education at Sheffield Hallam, said: "We wholeheartedly endorse the ITT enterprise enhancement course run by Ready Unlimited.

"Every year, we are proud to say that a full cohort of trainee teachers get to experience this training and go on to apply for their first teaching roles equipped with something truly innovative to make them stand out from the crowd. We are passionate about enterprise education at the university and therefore strongly believe that it should form part of our teacher education offer."

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has this week published its Skills and Employment Manifesto setting out ways to radically transform the systems that educate our young people. It includes calls for universities and chambers of commerce to promote enterprise among a wider range of students and for improvements to careers guidance and employability skills provision in schools.

Rotherham leads the way in enterprise education and has become internationally acclaimed for its approach to integrating enterprise into learning for all children aged 4-19. Professors and business people from Japan, Finland, Lithuania and Spain have visited Rotherham to find out more.

Ready Unlimited website

Images: Ready Unlimited

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News: PM's advisor sees enterprise education in action

The Prime Minister's Enterprise Advisor, Lord Young marked the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week by visiting a Rotherham school to see how teachers inspire pupils as young as four to learn more about the world of work and business.

Lord Young was visiting to learn more about Ready Unlimited, which develops teachers skills and confidence to create enterprising and entrepreneurial learning for all children, from as soon as they start school.

Evolving from Rotherham Ready and originally established as a council-run project by Rotherham Council in 2005, Ready Unlimited became an independent not-for-profit social enterprise in June.

As part of a roundtable discussion, Lord Young said: "I'd like to see a world in which enterprise is in all subjects, where examples of learning include enterprise examples, because learning about that enriches the core curriculum.

"Too often, young people are insulated from the lives they are going to live as adults. To see children this young learning about enterprise as part of their everyday curriculum shows just what is possible. If we could see this everywhere, it would be a significant step forward. Unless a young person leaves school with these skills and knowledge, they're not really prepared for the world ahead of them."

As part of his visit to Rotherham, Lord Young saw how staff developed enterprise through a "Mini Beasts" curriculum topic, with children setting up companies to respond to a design brief. He saw how children took on different company roles, from managers and accountants to designers, and had to work to a strict budget.

Lynne Pepper, head teacher at Herringthorpe Infants School, said: "It is fantastic to be able to show that enterprise doesn't have to be a bolt on, but can be an integral part of children's learning that demonstrates the relevance of the curriculum they experience."

Catherine Brentnall, managing director of Ready Unlimited, added: "We share many of the same goals as the Government around preparing children to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives, making them more entrepreneurial, improving educational attainment and encouraging citizenship.

"It was great to be able show Lord Young real examples of how we are actually supporting teachers to do this and discuss the opportunities and challenges around scaling these approaches across the country."

The Rt Hon the Lord Young of Graffham PC DL became Secretary of State for Employment in 1985 and in 1987 became Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade. He was Executive Chairman of Cable and Wireless pic from 1990 to 1995 and then Chairman of Young Associates Ltd, which invests in new technologies.

He has produced reports for the Prime Minister on growing micro businesses and supporting the start-up and development of small business.

Rotherham leads the way in enterprise education and has become internationally acclaimed for its approach to integrating enterprise into learning for all children aged 4-19. Professors and business people from Japan, Finland, Lithuania and Spain have visited Rotherham to find out more.

Ready Unlimited website

Images: Ready Unlimited

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News: Rotherham schools ready to work with local business to support hospice

Staff and students have been tasked with finding innovative ways to raise money for charity as part of The Rotherham Hospice Enterprise Challenge.

A record 48 teams are taking part in the challenge that was launched last week at the Carlton Park Hotel by Ready Unlimited, the Rotherham-based service that supports educators to embed enterprise and entrepreneurship across the curriculum.

Sheffield-based solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, are providing £50 loans for each team and business mentoring, but it will be up to the students to come up with enterprising ways of turning the initial investment in to much, much more for the Rotherham Hospice.

The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers.

Anne Giblin, fundraiser at Rotherham Hospice, said: "This is a really exciting challenge. We've worked hard to build on previous fund raising activities with Ready Unlimited and Rotherham schools, and with our sponsor Irwin Mitchell on board this year, we're hoping to take the challenge to the next level."

The challenge will conclude in January 2014 when the students' fundraising activities will come to an end and the groups who have best met the enterprise skill-related judging criteria will win prizes. All groups have been tasked to share their fundraising experiences and enterprising learning at a closing ceremony with a panel of judges made up of Rotherham business representatives.

Claire Bracewell, legal executive at Irwin Mitchell said: "We're really looking forward to seeing how the students approach their fundraising and how they draw on their enterprise skills to develop their ideas."

Catherine Brentnall, managing director of Ready Unlimited, added: "We're very proud of the partnership that has been developed – it's great that young people are raising money for a great cause, whilst developing important enterprise skills and linking with business mentors from Irwin Mitchell."

Evolving from Rotherham Ready and originally established as a council-run project by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in 2006, Ready Unlimited became an independent not-for-profit social enterprise in June.

Ready Unlimited website

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