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Isle of Wight students solve business problems

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

49 students from Island High schools took part in an “Enterprise Lab” workshop learning to pitch and present their business ideas and to solve real problems set by real businesses.

The students from Medina High School and Ryde High School spent four hours at Isle of Wight Economic Partnership’s Innovation Centre in Newport, working with local businesses to develop their skills and give them a taste of the rewards and challenges of being in business. Business people from across the Island gave their time to encourage students to hone their business skills.

The workshop was hosted and organised by IWEP’s Enterprise Hub and the Chamber of Commerce’s Education Business Partnership/Young Chamber as part of their work to encourage young people and to develop a motivated workforce to ensure the Island’s future business success.

Prizes were awarded for the best pitches to business people in a “Dragon’s Den” type scenario. One of the prize winners, Bryony Willett of Medina High School presented her request for more practical work and business workshops to Brian Bailey of Roma Homes, Linda Draper Management Consultant and Paul Wood of Navigate Solutions. She said, “The training about giving short “elevator” pitches was brilliant; it really helped me to build my confidence and get across my points in a fast and organised way.”

Comments from Marcus Rugg, Shem Michail, Adan Wilson and Masoud Ahmed all from Ryde High included, ”The morning really showed us how business are run and the type of challenges they face.” “It was good fun, and helped us to think about what we might want to do in the future.” They also said they thought there should be more events like this and they thought it would be good for younger students who are choosing their study options.

Students were posed real-life problems by business people who also included Rob Sauven, Managing Director of Vestas Technology, Claire Warne, a graphic designer.

Colin Simmonds of GreenGoldFish Project, set the students the problem of how to make an embryonic website better-known and accessible, particularly to young people and to develop a market plan for its use. Amongst the solutions were advertisements at the Island’s ice-rink which is popular with the young.

Rob Sauven, MD Vestas Technology and Enterprise Hub Champion said, “It is so important for businesses to work with young people, not only to give them a taste of the business world, but also because we can learn so much from them – the students were incredibly creative in their ideas – new thinking is what gives a business the competitive edge.”

Ken Dueck, IWEP’s Enterprise Hub Director said, “This type of activity is great for the students and gives businesses the chance to help shape the education of their future workforce.” Malcolm Lloyd of the Education Business Partnership said “This is the second event we have hosted together (IWEP & EBP) both have been really well received by school and business.” Moira Henderson of Young Chamber commented “The students were totally engaged throughout and were motivated to request far more of these activities in the future.” Rhiannon Watkins, from Ryde High said: “I found today very useful. It was good to meet people who work in business and be able to talk to them. Also speaking and putting a pitch forward proved to me that I can do it. I would like to come to another.” Marcus Rugg “I think there should be more events like this for younger and older people as well.”

Nigel Davie, Subject leader for Business at Ryde High School was keen for students to attend the event as part of the school’s business studies programme. He said, “It’s fantastic to have real business problems rather than the theoretical textbook examples. The workshop gave the students an opportunity to shine in areas they wouldn’t normally tackle.”

Brain Horwell, Head of Geography which incorporates business, from Medina High School echoed the sentiments and added, “This event has opened up a new opportunity for work-related learning with one of the businesses we met today on a specific project that could help to solve real business challenges.”

The workshop was run by “The Enterprise Lab” and funded through the SEEDA Enterprise Hub network, of which the Isle of Wight Enterprise is a part.