Bodmin College’s year 10 students became entrepreneurs for the week in July when they took part in a business enterprise challenge organised by Cornwall Learning Education Business Partnership (EBP). At the same time, they worked on a qualification to develop their team-working skills.
Working in companies, 200 students were challenged to put together a sales pitch for a ‘virtual’ £100,000 investment by a celebrity chef for their concept fora new restaurant in Newquay.
Liz Quinn from Cornwall Learning EBP said: “The companies worked over 3 days to plan and put together their ideas. By working in teams, they competed and presented their ideas to a panel of judges from the local Bodmin business community.
“The students came up with some really creative ideas.”
Whilst doing their challenge, the College students worked on a qualification to help them prepare for the workplace. The Business Enterprise Challenge is supported by an Edexcel L2 Workskills Award – Working in a Team. Cornwall Learning EBP has developed and piloted this qualification at Bodmin College this term.
Quinn further added: “The event was a resounding success and gave the students the opportunity to develop their soft skills of communication and teamwork, qualities that are essential in the work place. The judges were impressed by the convincing sales pitches made by the companies, and the quality of the students’ resources and original ideas.”
