Business Masterclass at The Coopers School

As part of the Bicester Vision initiative to support Bicester schools, The Cooper School chose a Launchpad Masterclass for its Year 12 students on Friday 1st July, preceding the students’ Work Experience Week (Monday 4th – Friday 8th July). Young Enterprise offers a variety of one and half-day Masterclasses meeting the needs of different age ranges and learning/training objectives, presented in a fun and educational context. The Cooper School selected the Launchpad Masterclass as it includes a range of hands-on team activities for all abilities and personal skill sets and emphasises team and employability skills: areas that they felt their students would benefit from. There were 80 Year 12 students attending. They had recently finished their AS examinations, some students will be remaining at The Cooper School, others might be leaving at the end of this academic year.

 

Launchpad’s education mapping is to introduce team, business and employability skills concepts, assign tasks that build this understanding and provide students with the opportunity to apply these skills during their training day. Launchpad assigns tasks that initially appear disparate, but have common a theme. The day’s tasks built on business -based product development and marketing mix projects culminating in group presentations to a Dragons Den. The training module is delivered by the Young Enterprise Manager, together with the Young Enterprise Business Advisers; logistics and student behaviour/discipline is managed by the host school.

 

The Masterclass was supported by Mark Lambert from the Cooper School and the following Young Enterprise volunteers, who had each received a training guide for the day and a timetable for the event the previous week:

 

  1. Tim Stanbury: Young Enterprise Finance Manager
  2. Kevin Senior: Business Consultant
  3. Gordon Beach: Oxford Business Mentors and Young Enterprise City & Central Area Local Volunteer Board Member
  4. James Spolander: Director, JLS Global Consulting (am)
  5. Louisa Muller: Said Business School
  6. John Coffin: Business Consultant/Finance Director (retired)
  7. Placi Espejo: Sales & Marketing Manager, Heyford Park Management (am)
  8. Graeme Laws: Bicester Vision

 

  • Adrian Mason: Client Director:  Receivables, ABL and Fixed Assets, Global Corporate, Global Transaction Banking, Lloyds Banking and Chair of the YE North & West Area Local Volunteer Board
  • Wayne Mills: Head of Receivables, ABL and Corporate Asset Finance (Global Corporates and Financial Institutions), Lloyds Banking (for judging)
  • Ben Baxter: Head Teacher (for judging)
  • Head of Sixth Form (for judging)

 

The day comprised:

  • The Rope Challenge (communication, problem-solving, initiative, confidence, teamwork, organisation and resilience)
  • Employability Skills
  • Team Personality Types
  • The Wire Hanger Challenge (communication, problem-solving, initiative, confidence, teamwork, organisation, resilience and financial capability)
  • The Shoe Challenge (communication, problem-solving, initiative, confidence, teamwork, organisation, resilience and financial capability)
  • STARS Training (technique to transfer life experiences into the employability skills employers are looking for)

 

Generally, the students engaged well with the tasks assigned to them throughout the day, with the support of the Business Advisers and the Young Enterprise Manager. At break time all students were consulted and assessed for engagement and enjoyment of the training so far and based on this feedback and that of the Business Advisers, it was decided not to launch the Shoe Challenge with the optional Finance Package. During the Shoe Challenge again all students were consulted with to test their progress and engagement.

 

The students produced some inspirational ideas for the judges, really enjoyed the creative business elements of the training day and presented their ideas and concepts especially well. Mr Baxter and the Head of Sixth Form were especially impressed, thoroughly enjoyed the presentations and let me know later how much the students had enjoyed the day. The students capably demonstrated their employability skills learning in communication, problem-solving, initiative, confidence, teamwork, organisation and resilience.

 

Mark Lambert’s teacher evaluation of the day was good:  ‘The day was a great success, which benefited the students both in terms of appreciating their employability skills and as a morale booster. Almost all our students remained on task throughout the day and that was partly the activities and partly the way they were presented…… volunteers were varied and of good standing and many built good relationships with the students, their presence greatly added to their experience and feel of the day….. Overall a more than satisfactory set of outcomes for our students, who seemed to enjoy the interaction and activities’

Bicester is becoming a hot bed for new and existing businesses that want to grow.

“Bicester is becoming a hot bed for new and existing businesses that want to grow. We’ve got a great location, excellent business networks and access to high quality investment opportunities.”
2016-09-24T12:44:28+01:00
“Bicester is becoming a hot bed for new and existing businesses that want to grow. We’ve got a great location, excellent business networks and access to high quality investment opportunities.”

Membership of Bicester Vision has provided the best possible conduit for the military

"Membership of Bicester Vision has provided the best possible conduit for the military to both understand and contribute towards the development and Bicester Town"
2016-12-06T14:46:03+00:00
"Membership of Bicester Vision has provided the best possible conduit for the military to both understand and contribute towards the development and Bicester Town"

Being a member enables us to build a close understanding of the needs of local businesses

“Chiltern Railways provides fast, frequent train services from Bicester North station and the newly opened Bicester Village station to London, Birmingham, Oxford and key locations in between.  Being a member of Bicester Vision enables us to build a close understanding of the needs of local businesses and helps us to shape our future growth strategy.”

Stephen Barker, Chiltern Railways
2016-12-07T09:04:34+00:00
“Chiltern Railways provides fast, frequent train services from Bicester North station and the newly opened Bicester Village station to London, Birmingham, Oxford and key locations in between.  Being a member of Bicester Vision enables us to build a close understanding of the needs of local businesses and helps us to shape our future growth strategy.”Stephen Barker, Chiltern Railways

We have a profound interest in the progress of the Town

“The Bicester Chamber of Commerce and Bicester Vision have a profound interest in the progress of the Town and understand that in some circumstances the continual increase in the numbers of houses and businesses will cause disquiet, to individuals and existing business alike. Change is always with us, and both the “Chamber” and “Vision” endeavour to keep the standards from the past while facing, and working, with the challenges of the future.”

Peter Cox, Chairman of Bicester Chamber
2016-12-07T09:07:17+00:00
“The Bicester Chamber of Commerce and Bicester Vision have a profound interest in the progress of the Town and understand that in some circumstances the continual increase in the numbers of houses and businesses will cause disquiet, to individuals and existing business alike. Change is always with us, and both the “Chamber” and “Vision” endeavour to keep the standards from the past while facing, and working, with the challenges of the future.”Peter Cox, Chairman of Bicester Chamber

The primary objective for Bicester Vision is to provide opportunities for job creation

"The primary objective for Bicester Vision is to provide opportunities for job creation and this supports a key commitment within our Local Plan to deliver employment in line with housing. As a designated Garden Town, Bicester is expanding at the pace so it is essential to attract the inward investment and businesses who will be vital to this success. Through our membership with Bicester Vision, we can work with partners and existing businesses to access to additional channels, resources and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our goal as a district of opportunity and employment."

Karen Curtin, Commercial Director (Bicester) , Cherwell District Council
2016-12-07T09:10:34+00:00
"The primary objective for Bicester Vision is to provide opportunities for job creation and this supports a key commitment within our Local Plan to deliver employment in line with housing. As a designated Garden Town, Bicester is expanding at the pace so it is essential to attract the inward investment and businesses who will be vital to this success. Through our membership with Bicester Vision, we can work with partners and existing businesses to access to additional channels, resources and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our goal as a district of opportunity and employment."Karen Curtin, Commercial Director (Bicester) , Cherwell District Council

The County Council is a key partner in delivering infrastructure for housing and employment growth in Bicester

"The County Council is a key partner in delivering infrastructure for housing and employment growth in Bicester.  Essential to that is the close working across all tiers of government and the private sector to enable all Bicester businesses to prosper and create job opportunities for the community.  The Council has been a founding member and has seen the work of the partnership play an active role in shaping a flourishing Bicester."

Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager , Oxfordshire County Council
2016-12-07T09:30:32+00:00
"The County Council is a key partner in delivering infrastructure for housing and employment growth in Bicester.  Essential to that is the close working across all tiers of government and the private sector to enable all Bicester businesses to prosper and create job opportunities for the community.  The Council has been a founding member and has seen the work of the partnership play an active role in shaping a flourishing Bicester."Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager , Oxfordshire County Council

Bicester Town Council has been part of Bicester Vision since its inception

"Bicester Town Council has been part of Bicester Vision since its inception and are pleased to be able to work alongside the  business community and all tiers of local government to make Bicester the ‘go to’ place for business opportunity."

Sue Mackrell, Bicester Town Council
2016-12-07T09:44:43+00:00
"Bicester Town Council has been part of Bicester Vision since its inception and are pleased to be able to work alongside the  business community and all tiers of local government to make Bicester the ‘go to’ place for business opportunity."Sue Mackrell, Bicester Town Council

Through our work with Bicester Vision we are able identify the development needs of the town

“Ziran Land and its predecessor Stockdale Land has found that working closely with the business community of Bicester has enabled us to successfully develop Pioneer Square Shopping Centre and now to develop Franklin House, which was completed in 2016.  The growth of Bicester enables us, through our work with Bicester Vision, to identify the business, retail and leisure development needs of the town and to work closely with the business community to provide these.”

John Liggins, Managing Director, Ziran Land Limited
2016-12-07T09:47:00+00:00
“Ziran Land and its predecessor Stockdale Land has found that working closely with the business community of Bicester has enabled us to successfully develop Pioneer Square Shopping Centre and now to develop Franklin House...”

Bicester Vision is an effective way for interested parties to collaborate

"Bicester Vision is an effective way for interested parties to collaborate. We have recently worked with Lisa Rawlings at Banbury and Bicester College as being an industry partner for Bicester Technology studio school and supporting them on the curriculum, equipment specification, and funding. As well as facilitating other 3rd Party Logistics firms like DHL to be involved, Solar panel contact via the Low Carbon Hub to support on the building design for sustainable construction."

Steve Thornton, Director UK Logistics & Supply Chain, BRITA UK
2016-12-07T09:49:31+00:00
"Bicester Vision is an effective way for interested parties to collaborate. We have recently worked with Lisa Rawlings at Banbury and Bicester College as being an industry partner for Bicester Technology studio school and supporting them on the curriculum, equipment specification, and funding. As well as facilitating other 3rd Party Logistics firms like DHL to be involved, Solar panel contact via the Low Carbon Hub to support on the building design for sustainable construction."Steve Thornton, Director UK Logistics & Supply Chain, BRITA UK