News
Inspiresme Week 2011
15 November 2011
Inspiresme Week (14th - 18th November) is an organisation set up by the Mayor of London which gives young aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to work and gain experience from businesses in the capital. Luke Pickett (student at Bexleyheath Academy) reports from his time spent with Yellow Cat Recruitment...
With the dedicated time from Philip Hodgkinson (Workspace Group) and from businesses that are open to offer this scheme (within Workspace Group facilities) this project has been able to be put in full operation.
Schools involved
- Bexleyheath Academy
- Aylward Academy
- Nightingale Academy
About me – Luke Pickett
I am currently in education at Bexleyheath Academy in my first year of sixth form. As part of my business and enterprise course, I was given the opportunity to undergo the Inspiresme Week project where I was given an option of businesses to work with as part of my project. There was a wide range of choice in terms of the businesses but I wanted one that I believed showed the best interest for me: Yellow Cat Recruitment.
My first day
After leaving the school to travel to London Bridge, I had to go to the Leathermarket building where Yellow Cat is stationed. After a short introduction for the students and the businesses, we were taken to where we will be working for the week. I was greeted by the Director of the company, Mr Jonny Breeze, who very kindly introduced me to his colleagues. From the very start of the introduction the company showed great hospitality and made me feel very welcome. The company portray a very professional and friendly environment within the workspace.
Inspiresme Week tasks
Each student was given a source book that had the tasks in which the students would have to complete within the week. Tasks included planning, in which we had to think of our own business idea and make a rough business plan. Starting up, which was the task that we would have to cooperate with the company in order to produce a new product and to also find out why they chose their name and if it best describes the purpose of the company. Then we would have to think of a new scheme to help motivate the staff within the workspace. After this we would have to look at the way technology is used to make our business more efficient. I would then have to create a new logo for my company and think of new ways that I could promote my company and services. We would also have to look at the ways the company could reduce energy use and to increase recycling.
These tasks throughout the week would help us as students gain an insight into the structure of a business to help us with our final task that would be held at the Leathermarket. The three academies would come together and would be separated into teams of seven where students would have to come up with a business that had a green focus or output. Students would have to pitch there business to three judges in which the teams would be allocated a final score.
The week’s main objective is to inspire students to become entrepreneurs instead of working for someone.
I can’t wait!
Luke Pickett