STUDENTS at King James's School have proved that the spirit of enterprise is flourishing in school by reaching the finals of no less than three major business competitions.
Five Year 10 business students and a Year 12 Young Enterprise team will be competing in the Griffin’s Nest and Venturefest finals next Wednesday, both being held at York Racecourse, and the same day another group is hoping for success off-stage at a
battle of the bands contest.
The Griffin’s Nest team has to produce a display and then do a Dragon’s Den-style presentation on their Knaresborough map pack, a tourist trail with a difference. The pack includes tourist information coupled with environment and sustainability information, advising visitors on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Young Enterprise company Snapshots aims to ‘capture the best moments of your life’ by personalising anything customers want, from T-shirts and hoodies to mugs and key rings. Last term they made a contribution to a King James’s charity day by producing pink T-shirts in support of Breast Cancer UK.
And at the AMP Awards at the Royal Hall, Harrogate, Caramel Fortune were selected to represent the school on-stage while another group of pupils put their business acumen to work behind the scenes.
They organised the initial band contest at King James’s, when Caramel Fortune emerged as the winners, and for the final were then given the task of marketing the event. As well as organising ticket sales they have designed and sourced merchandise, including wristbands, banners and glowsticks.
And while the bands are preparing for the evening concert the business team has to produce a display and then do a presentation to a panel of judges outlining the work that they have put into the event and what they have learned, with separate music and business prizes up for grabs.
King James’s has specialist Business & Enterprise status and works hard to promote enterprise across the school.
“In the current economic climate it is more important than ever to develop enterprise skills such as positive thinking, teamworking and creativity,” said co-ordinator Gemma Kerridge.
“Pupils are encouraged to develop their enterprise skills in lessons and through extra-curricular activities.
Mrs Kerridge added: “Getting three business groups – plus the band – through to these finals is a mark of the hard work done by students and staff. We have a real enterprise buzz here in school.”
