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

Images: Rotherham College

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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: Enterprise retail placements at Parkgate

A successful partnership between Parkgate Shopping, Rotherham Ready and Wingfield Academy is once again helping local young people to take their first steps onto the career ladder.

A group of Year 11 school leavers at the Academy on Wingfield Road near Kimberworth Park took their interest in retail one step further by taking part during the summer term in an application and interview process.

Organised through Parkgate Shopping and Rotherham Ready, the successful applicants were able to gain an enterprise retail placement on the shopping park over the summer, working with Boots, Marks and Spencer and Mothercare.

Rotherham Ready is an award-winning enterprise education programme that is being replicated across the UK. It supports schools across Rotherham to develop a 4-19 enterprise entitlement meaning that young people in Rotherham have their education enhanced by developing a range of skills and capabilities that enable them to be enterprising and entrepreneurial in order to reach their goals for the future.

Kate Penney, enterprise projects co-ordinator at Rotherham Ready, said: "All the students who applied had thought hard about their suitability and qualifications for this valuable opportunity, and we were all impressed by the way this came out in the interviews. The successful candidates can now go on and gain valuable experience to help them in their future careers."

Billy Smith, operations manager at Parkgate Shopping (pictured, second left), added: "We have worked alongside Wingfield and Rotherham Ready on several occasions now, and what pleases me is the outcomes of our collaboration.

"We all understand the value of good practical on the job experience, and when it is linked into the school's own careers programme and supported by retailers who are keen to find young local talent, it becomes a real win-win project."

Parkgate Shopping website
Rotherham Ready website

Images: Rotherham Ready

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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

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News: Mace makes case for National Entrepreneurial Service

Jason Mace, managing director of Gala Tent in Rotherham, one of the UK's largest marquee manufacturers, has pitched his idea for a National Entrepreneurial Service, where school leavers would be given support to set up their own businesses.

Jason was invited to attend a private discussion at the House of Lords by Lord Borwick of Hawkshead on the subject of young enterprise and how teenagers leaving school could be encouraged to set up their own businesses and be more enterprising.

Mr Mace was contacted by Lord Borwick, due to his involvement with Rotherham Ready and Rotherham Youth Enterprise, as well as with local schools and colleges including the Peter Jones' Academy at Sheffield College.

Jason presented his ideas to several influential people, including many of the UK's leading entrepreneurs, for a National Entrepreneurial Service. For two years after they leave school, the support would include help with formulating a business idea and creating a business plan and would be backed up by ongoing support from a national body of entrepreneurs. At the end of the two year period, the most successful business ideas would receive a cash prize and an Entrepreneurial Business Award. Jason also explained to the influential delegates about his plans for setting up a social enterprise called the Lennon Tree, which aims to help young people to seek volunteering opportunities and placements that improve their future career prospects.

Jason Mace, entrepreneur and managing director of Gala Tent, said: "It was fantastic to be invited to join this debate at the House of Lords as I am very passionate about helping young people to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. This country has the potential to be one of the world's most enterprising economies and it all starts with young people.

"I look forward to presenting my vision for the National Entrepreneurial Service to other influential bodies in the future."

Jason is a former board member of Rotherham Youth Enterprise and plays an active part in their events and challenges within schools and colleges in Rotherham. He has been involved for a number of years in setting real life business challenges to the Peter Jones Academy at Sheffield College in a bid to inspire students about the opportunities if they consider setting up their own business, after completing their studies.

Established in 1999 by Mace, Gala Tent the company has expanded from a temporary table top operation in the function room of a local working men's club to an international supplier. Starting with with £2,500 debt on his credit card, Gala Tent has grown to be one of the largest manufacturers of marquees and gazebos in the UK, selling over 10,000 tents and marquees each year, along with around 90,000 event accessories and furniture products. Now based at Manvers, Gala Tent is a preferred supplier for organisations including the military, NHS, the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, South Yorkshire Police Service, St John's Ambulance and AA.

Gala Tent website

Images: Gala Tent

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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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News: Rotherham's entrepreneurs of the future

Rotherham's entrepreneurs of the future will be showcasing their enterprise skills at an exciting carnival day as part of Rotherham Children's Festival.

Young people from primary and secondary schools involved in the town's enterprise programme, Rotherham Ready, will be presenting their entrepreneurial skills by selling their produce that they have grown and made to members of the public at an Enterprise Learning Market.

Rotherham leads the way in enterprise education. Rotherham Ready, which was launched in 2005, has become internationally acclaimed for its approach to integrating enterprise into learning for all children aged 4-19.

As part of the event on June 28 at Rotherham United's New York Stadium, schools involved in the innovative "Ready Hubs" in Rotherham (clusters of schools working together to prioritise enterprise across learning communities) will be showcasing their developments. The three learning communities that are involved in Ready Hubs are Wingfield, Winterhill and Clifton.

The Enterprise Learning Market will give visitors an insight into the world of enterprise and entrepreneurship in education and how it is benefiting schools and young people in the area.

13 schools will be showcasing their enterprise learning across 18 stalls, providing an excellent and unique opportunity to learn about different approaches and the impact of enterprise through the curriculum.

The event is open to anyone – young people, teachers, families, businesses and the wider community. Visitors will see how schools are using enterprise as a way of transforming learning and young people's skills, attitudes and understanding about the world of work and business.

Jackie Frost, enterprise projects manager at Rotherham Council and Rotherham Ready manager, said: "An event like this brilliantly shows the talent and inventiveness of Rotherham's young people. It is really important that we support the town's future entrepreneurs and enterprising employees and come along to the event!"

Rotherham Ready website

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News: Parkgate pilots Ready Hubs

Parkgate Shopping is supporting a pilot project that offers four lucky Rotherham students a chance develop enterprise skills among young people.

The Ready Hubs scheme offers a unique mentoring opportunity that will see the students working closely with Parkgate Shopping to develop retail skills.

Rotherham Ready support schools across Rotherham to develop a 4-19 enterprise entitlement meaning that young people in Rotherham have their education enhanced by developing a range of skills and capabilities that enable them to be enterprising and entrepreneurial in order to reach their goals for the future.

Rotherham Ready is working with the Learning Communities of Wingfield, Winterhill and Clifton to develop Ready Hubs, that will empower young people and communities to create a better social and economic future by transforming lives though enterprise.

With representatives from schools, the community and business, Ready Hubs will co produce a range of activities and initiatives that offer young people a rounded experience of enterprise learning.

Four year 11 students from Wingfield have secured enterprising placements at Parkgate Shopping through retailers, Next and Marks & Spencer, and are being mentored to develop their enterprise skills and options for the future.

Joanne Sorby, Careers/Work related Co-ordinator at Wingfield Business and Enterprise College, said: "As a college we are committed to providing experiences for students to enhance their employability skills and increase their knowledge of the world of work. The chance to work closely with Rotherham Ready and local employers to provide work placements for some of our students was an excellent opportunity to develop this further."

Billy Smith, regional operations manager at Parkgate, added: "This is an excellent initiative from Rotherham Ready, and we are very pleased to be working with them and Wingfield Business and Enterprise College. I'm sure that the students will gain valuable experience during their time with Next and Marks and Spencer, and that it will benefit them greatly as they consider their career and further education options."

The creation of these Hubs has been supported by Nesta through the Creative Councils programme. Nesta is an independent charity with a mission to help people and organisations bring great ideas to life and the Ready Hub Schools and their partners are doing a great job at making the most of this opportunity.

Kate Penney, Ready Hubs coordinator for RMBC said: "The collaboration and input from partners with a different range of skills and experience is a key strength of the Ready Hubs and all of the schools and their partners from business and the community have shown real commitment to improving outcomes for young people. This partnership is a clear example of the value of working together to achieve a shared goal."

Parkgate Shopping website
Rotherham Ready website

Images: Parkgate Shopping

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News: Gala Tent helps young people in Rotherham get ready for work

Five young people from Rotherham have been given a unique insight into the world of work by Gala Tent, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of marquees and gazebos.

The Manvers company jumped at the chance to help unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 22 to prepare for the world of work, having been approached by Rotherham Youth Enterprise, who were delivering the Job Centre Plus initiative, for help with the "Get Ready" programme.

As part of the eight week long programme, Gala Tent's managing director Jason Mace ran a workshop at My Place in Rotherham, providing valuable advice on employment, interviews and enterprise. Jason Mace talked about his experiences of setting up Gala Tent, providing a valuable insight into the highs and lows of starting a business.

Jason also offered advice on preparing for interviews and employer's expectations of employees in the workplace, alongside graphic designer Kathrine Furniss from Gala Tent, who gave the group advice tips on producing a good CV which leaves a lasting impression on potential employers.

The young people were then set an enterprise challenge, with all profits raised going to local charity, Rotherham Cancer Care Centre. Rotherham Cancer Care Centre loaned £150 to the young people who set about organising two events held at Rotherham Street Market and Parkgate Shopping.

Gala Tent supported the Parkgate event by loaning the young people a marquee which would provide a professional shop front for their business.

Jason Mace, managing director of Gala Tent (pictured above, far let), said: "I was delighted to get involved with helping to inspire young people into being entrepreneurial and motivating them in their search for employment.

"I was really impressed with the hard work and enterprise of the young people involved in the programme. They took on board the advice and guidance we gave them in the workshop and made a real success of their two day business venture, raising over £500 for a good cause. I wish the group all the best in their search for a career and hope that a few of them may even be inspired to pursue their own business ventures."

Jackie Frost, enterprise projects manager at Rotherham Youth Enterprise (pictured above, far right), added: "Gala Tent's support of the "Get Ready" programme helped the young people involved to raise £568.14 for Rotherham Cancer Care Centre, on top of paying back the initial £150 loan.

"The event at Parkgate would not have been possible without the help of Gala Tent as their marquee provided protection from the bitterly cold weather. The marquee made an impressive pop up shop and, along with the workshop delivered by Jason Mace and Kathrine Furniss, it inspired real confidence in the young people we were working with."

Gala Tent will be previewing its extensive range of new designs for marquees, gazebos and accessories at its Spring Show on April 26 - 27.

Gala Tent website
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News: Enterprising Rotherham infants learn through taking risks

As part of the innovative "Are You Ready?" enterprise education initiative, pupils at Herringthorpe Infants School in Rotherham are being encouraged to learn through taking risks and are learning from their mistakes.

The Are You Ready? team, train teachers to develop enterprise and entrepreneurship through the curriculum, to enhance learning and develop children's enterprising attitudes and behaviours. It has grown out of the acclaimed enterprise project, Rotherham Ready, which developed the concept of a 4-19 Enterprise Entitlement to engage all children and young people in enterprise learning from as soon as they start school.

Year 2 children at Herringthorpe worked to a real design brief set by younger children in the school who were keeping chickens and wanted to sell their eggs, but kept dropping them. The children were asked to design durable and attractive packaging, pitch their ideas and risk testing them with an "egg drop."

Lynne Pepper, head teacher at Herringthorpe Infants School, said: "Developing enterprise has helped us create a learning environment where children have the opportunity to take risks and make mistakes, and learn from both. Part of this approach is about stepping back and letting children take the lead and develop their confidence and resilience from being independent and bouncing back from failure."

Entrepreneurship expert Dr Tim Vorley, from the University of Sheffield, is evaluating the programme which provides innovative and high impact enterprise education training and provision, supporting schools, colleges and universities to work with young people, business and the wider community to create a culture of enterprise in education and beyond.

Dr Vorley said: "This approach is powerful because it creates an environment and culture which encourages students to embrace uncertainty and recognise there can be multiple solutions and outcomes to challenges."

The approach to enterprise education has garnered world wide interest and acclaim, with professors and business people from Japan, Finland, Lithuania and Spain visiting to find out more and Rotherham being crowned "The Most Enterprising Place in Britain" in 2010.

NESTA, the UK's leading innovation charity, is investing in supporting the scale up of model, and has been supporting the development of the Are You Ready? social enterprise which operates nationally.

Catherine Brentnall, managing director of Are You Ready?, said: "Being able to take risks and handle uncertainty are key enterprise capabilities and crucial life skills for young people in the 21st century. Our approach harnesses the unique opportunity teachers have to influence the development of young people's skills and attitudes by creating opportunities for learning about, through and for enterprise as part of the everyday curriculum."

Are You Ready website

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News: Businesses urged to get involved with Rotherham Ready

Rotherham Council's award-winning Rotherham Ready enterprise education programme is looking for more local businesses to get involved and support the development of the borough's entrepreneurs of the future.

Rotherham Ready, which was launched in 2005, has become internationally acclaimed for its approach to integrating enterprise into learning for all children aged 4-19. The town won the prestigious Enterprising Britain competition in 2010 for this work which is now being replicated nationally through the Creative Councils programme, creating a culture of enterprise in education.

Within Rotherham, enterprise education and training is being coordinated at three Learning Communities, known as the Ready Hubs, and more businesses are being sought to get involved in exciting work with schools and colleges.

A business briefing is taking place on Tuesday November 27 from 8.30am – 9.30am, at Rockingham Professional Development Centre, on how local businesses can offer meaningful support at a manageable level.

Kate Penney, creative councils coordinator at Rotherham Ready, said: "I am really excited to be working with Rotherham Ready to develop the already successful and highly regarded enterprise provision across Rotherham.

"I am particularly excited by the further development of the programme that will promote and engage representatives from schools and colleges, the wider community and businesses.

"The business briefing event on the 27th November is an excellent platform for businesses to get involved with young people and the community to raise aspirations and give enterprise education and skills a real life context. There are a number of different ways that businesses large and small can support this and we encourage them to come along to the event to find out more."

Previous work includes the innovative "Make £5 Blossom" scheme where businesses are invited to loan children £5 each, with a maximum loan of £150, with the aim of introducing children to the skills involved in running a business by letting them have a go themselves.

Jacqui Saxon, creative director at The Ultimate Balloon Company in Rotherham, said: "I've been involved in Make £5 Blossom and I've been a Young Entrepreneur's Club mentor. As a business person I believe we should educate about self employment and support the development of crucial workplace skills. These projects are brilliant at doing that.

"Young people show such energy and creativity and you see them grow in confidence."

To book a place at the Rotherham Ready business briefing email Kate.Penney@rotherham.gov.uk

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News: National recognition for Rotherham Ready

Rotherham Council's Rotherham Ready enterprise education programme has been recognised as a radical new way to deliver public services.

It has been selected to move into the second phase of the Creative Councils programme run by the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and the Local Government Association.

Rotherham was one of just 17 councils from across the country selected to work intensively with the organisers and now just one of six that will be further developed as part of the programme.

The Creative Councils programme, which launched in April 2011, supports pioneering councils to develop, implement and spread transformational new approaches to meeting some of the biggest medium and long-term challenges facing communities and local services.

The second phase will build on some of the strongest ideas that have the potential to spread to other councils, by providing up to £150,000 in follow-on funding as well as non financial support such as legal advice and support with community engagement.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council submitted an idea to explore how the town's award winning enterprise education programme – Rotherham Ready – could be replicated nationally, creating a culture of enterprise in education.

Rotherham has a unique borough wide strategy for developing a culture of enterprise. Rotherham Ready, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, promotes enterprise and entrepreneurship throughout education and then Rotherham Youth Enterprise supports young people to start businesses in the town, with 232 youth businesses launched in the last five years.

This approach led to Rotherham being crowned The Most Enterprising Place in Britain in November 2010, beating off stiff competition from across Great Britain in the prestigious Enterprising Britain competition, headed up by Dragon's Den Star, Peter Jones.

Ready programmes have been developed in other parts of Yorkshire and the Humber, supported by the Young People's Enterprise Forum. Hull Ready, North Lincolnshire Ready, Calderdale Ready and Scarborough Ready have all been launched.

Catherine Brentnall, project officer for Rotherham Ready said: "We are thrilled to be one of the final six Creative Councils and to be able to continue working closely with NESTA. The level of challenge and support we have experienced being involved in the programme has really helped us develop new ideas about how to embed enterprise culture in education and in our communities."

Philip Colligan, executive director of NESTA's Innovation Lab, said: "Now more than ever we need local government to take the lead in shaping the public services of the future. All of the Creative Councils 2012 have showed a level of ambition and capability around innovation that deserves national recognition and attention. It's an amazingly diverse and exciting portfolio that we'll be working with over the next year and we'll be working hard to share their experiences and learning with the wider sector."

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News: Duke meets Rotherham's young entrepreneurs

His Royal Highness The Duke of York has given his seal of approval to Rotherham Ready, the flagship programme which is transforming children as young as four-years-old into budding entrepreneurs.

The Duke, who has a special interest in business and enterprise, visited Herringthorpe Infants school in Rotherham, where he met teachers, pupils and staff involved in the award-winning education programme.

Herringthorpe is the only infant school in the world to have an entrepreneurship speciality and the Duke saw children as young as four who are learning about the skills and attitudes needed in the world of work and business.

Rotherham Ready, which was launched in 2005, has become internationally acclaimed for its approach to integrating enterprise into learning for all children aged 4-19. The town won the prestigious Enterprising Britain competition in 2010 for this work. And in 2011, following the launch of the national facing part of the programme, ‘Are You Ready?’, won the StartUp Britain ‘Best Enterprise Support’ award at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Catherine Brentnall, project officer at Rotherham Ready, said: "The Duke recognised the disconnect between education and business and seemed genuinely impressed with the way we're bridging the gap and the real impact our work is having on children and young people.

"What was really encouraging was that he seemed interest in the national significance of the programme and the wider impact we can have across the UK."

Nancy Cresswell-Hall, 6, was one of the many pupils who chatted to the Duke during his visit to Herringthorpe Infants. She told him all about a classroom exercise based on the shoddy service given by the company who provided the Emperor’s New Clothes. The Duke also met Danny West who set up his own successful piazza party business and now also works as a Rotherham Ready mentor.

Following the success of Rotherham Ready, the programme has been replicated in Hull, North Lincolnshire, Calderdale, Scarborough, and most recently, Derbyshire in a bid to help young people develop alternatives to the unprecedented challenges they now face amidst youth unemployment of a million plus.

In the afternoon, His Royal Highness opened the Wentworth Building at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology in Rotherham town centre.

Rotherham Ready website

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News: Rotherham student inventors impress local entrepreneurs

Students from Wingfield Business & Enterprise College in Rotherham have been working with local entrepreneurs to design the inventions of the future.

With the support of Rotherham Ready, pupils from Year 7 have been exploring the idea of inventions and have considered past and current problems we could solve using enterprising and entrepreneurial skills.

Highlights include an alarm clock with a bacon scent, no more bad hair days with a hair sculpting helmet, environmentally friendly hovering car and a home suitable for disabled people to live independently.

As students considered their own future careers, they worked with local entrepreneurs and business people to find out more about starting your own business in Rotherham.

Entrepreneurs included Geoff Hunt from Swisher Blue cleaning, Jacqui Saxon from The Ultimate Balloon Company, Lucy Lipollis of Sparkles children’s parties, Lee Bestall from Inspired Garden Designs Ltd, Early Bird Deals, Flamingo Photography and Danny West from Pizzatainment party company.

The help and advice from these businesses was invaluable for Wingfield students who now have exciting ideas for the next step in their career. Some pupils were so impressive in their work that the businesses have promised to look out for them as future employees.

Last week, local entrepreneurs returned to be the guest judges in our Dragons Den Competition which was a culmination of all the pupils' learning.

Each class presented their invention for the future including details about advertising strategies, customer profiles, budgets and finance outlines.

The wining pitch was from Mr Jones's class with a "cigarextinguisher" invention. The product which most impressed our judges is a smoke detector to help enforce the smoking ban in public places. Its creator was Matthew Watson and for the prize winning presentation he was joined by Mahia Ul Haque.

Runners up with an excellent idea were Miss Barnes' Class, who provided a convincing solution to overcrowding and pollution in modern in cities by creating a "Floatopolis" - the city of the future in the sky!

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News: Rotherham Ready for royal appointments

Rotherham school children are set to show The Duke of York, Prince Andrew what makes Rotherham the most enterprising place in Britian.

The royal visitor is scheduled to meet with pupils at Herringthorpe Infants School next week and discuss the world-leading enterprise education programme, Rotherham Ready.

The pioneering scheme, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, works with schools and colleges to embed enterprise in education from 4-19 and beyond. Hundreds of teachers have been trained to develop enterprise in schools and colleges, and the scheme has harnessed the passion of the business community to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship in education.

Over 100 schools and colleges in Rotherham have also achieved the Warwick Award for Excellence in Enterprise Education - the quality mark for enterprise learning.

Rotherham Ready is internationally recognised as a model of best practice and it has been successful rolled out in other areas of the UK. A national enterprise education programme called "Are You Ready?", which is based on the ground-breaking work taking place in Rotherham, was launched last year.

It was the culture of enterprise fostered by Rotherham Ready and Rotherham Youth Enterprise that earned Rotherham the title of the most enterprising place in the UK when they won the Enterprising Britain competition in 2010.

The Duke of York will also be attending a business lunch at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT) in the town centre.

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