The Langtree Homes Enterprise Trophy
During the Autumn Term, Year 12 students from the Girls'
Division and Boys' Division of Bolton School took part in Business
Enterprise and Awareness Training (BEAT) courses, run by Brian Muir
from BEAT. Various interactive sessions introduced the pupils to
the business world. Seminars from speakers from a range of
commercial organisations ensured that the course had up-to-date
business input and expertise - and covered tasks relating to human
resources, management, marketing and sales, production and problem
solving.
Following the programme, pupils formed teams of six to develop
prospective new businesses offering a new product or service with a
view to asking a local bank for a business loan to set up their new
business. Throwing themselves in the Bolton School version of The
Dragons' Den, each group made a ten minute presentation, backed up
by PowerPoint slides, to a panel of judges. Business ideas
ranged from personalised climbing walls and producing stationery
from recycled paper to paint balling whilst driving a go kart.
Pupils were put under considerable pressure in defending the
virtues and merits of their marketing strategies and cash-flow
forecasts.
Two teams from each Division were then chosen to compete for the
Langtree Homes Enterprise Trophy. The four teams were Ladders
- a service to match students with suitable work experience
placements; Eezy Squeeze - self administering tooth brushes; AO
(accessories on line) selling accessories from high street stores
that are matched to individual garments; and UNI BOOK selling books
for university courses through an on-line database.
The judges felt that all the prospective businesses were viable
and that the presentations were confident, well-structured,
enthusiastic and professional. After much deliberation the judges,
Brian Muir of BEAT, Jonathan Sinnott of Langtree Homes Ltd, David
Moss of Barclays and Phil Warriner from BT awarded UNI BOOK the
trophy and Ladders the runner-up prize.
The School is very grateful to Langtree Homes Ltd for sponsoring
the Enterprise Trophy and would also like to thank BEAT, Barclays
Bank, BT, Milliken Industrials PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM who
support our events by supplying delegates, mentors and judges.