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Launch of Fife Schools Enterprise Game & Final of the Schools Enterprise Challenge
The official launch of the Fife Schools Enterprise Game took place today at a Culture of Enterprise event held at Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline. The event, part of the Fife Business Week programme, brought together an impressive number of local business leaders, educational representatives, teachers and pupils from across the region.
The new Schools Enterprise Game, introduced by the Fife Economy Partnership, has been developed by Fife Council as a way for young people to learn about business, enterprise and the Fife economy. The Fife Schools Enterprise Game involves young people ‘running’ their own business in groups, using their entrepreneurial skills to make their initiative as successful as possible.
The launch of the Schools Enterprise Game, supported by 28 local organisations, is a strong example of how Fife is leading the way in the early engagement of young people in enterprise. Part of the Culture of Enterprise Framework, the Schools Enterprise Game will help change attitudes towards business and entrepreneurship, and will help ensure that the young people of Fife understand the wealth of opportunities available in the region.
Dr Alasdair Allan, the Minister for Learning & Skills, said about the introduction of the Fife Schools Enterprise Game:
“Curriculum for Excellence is giving our young people the knowledge, understanding and skills they need for learning, life and work. Involving employers in education can bring real inspiration and relevance to young people and help them develop the motivation, skills and drive to create a more dynamic, enterprising and prosperous Scotland.
“By embedding enterprise in education across and within the curriculum and ethos in every school in Scotland, and engaging employers, we are setting learning in context, making it more relevant to the world beyond school.
“It seems to me that this is exactly what's happening in Fife through the new Schools Enterprise Game. A first for Scotland, it is strengthening business contact with schools and taking innovative approaches to developing new relationships between schools and businesses.”
The event also played host to the final of the Fife Schools Enterprise Challenge. Pupils from both primary and secondary schools across the region were invited to submit ideas on how best to enhance the understanding of enterprise in schools and how to improve engagement with local businesses.
The three short-listed schools - Pittencrieff Primary School, Glenwood High School and Kirkland High School and Community College - were able to demonstrate their business know-how by pitching their ideas direct a judging panel.
The panel included Keith Winter, Head of Enterprise, Planning and Projective Services, Head of Education (South), Craig Munro; Forrester Adam, Managing Director of Haldane UK Ltd; and Jim McArthur, Partner, Business Development for Hardies
Ltd.
Following an audience vote and feedback from the panel, the pupils from Kirkland High School and Community College were announced as the overall winners. This up and coming young team of entrepreneurs impressed the audience and judging panel by presenting a concise four-point plan to help inspire their fellow pupils to defy the daunting unemployment rates in their area by being enterprising and continuing to do well after leaving Kirkland.
The team will now receive support to progress their ideas. They plan to develop The Kirkland Achievement Wall, Kirkland Virtual Achievement E-Wall, Kirkland Achievement Assemblies and the Kirkland Mentor Programme.
Pittencrieff Primary School and Glenwood High School were also highly commended for their efforts. All the teams demonstrated first class presenting skills and a real passion for enterprise.
Fraser Phillips, Chair of the Fife Economy Partnership, said:
“Today's event demonstrates the strength of commitment to enterprise in Fife's schools and colleges. Fife Economy Partnership will continue to work with education providers through Fife Council, to take forward new ideas that will support development of a more enterprising culture in Fife.”
The Schools Enterprise Game is now set to become a major teaching aid across the region. Implementation is being supported by a Teacher Resource Pack which has been developed by Fife Council Education Services for use in schools.