Year 10 Business & Enterprise pupils gain valuable support from Penwortham entrepreneurs

We are very fortunate in Penwortham to have such a large number of successful business owners on Liverpool Road. This provides a fantastic learning opportunity for our Key Stage 4 Business & Enterprise pupils.

Since September our Year 10 pupils have explored different legal structures of business to develop their knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of enterprises and the skills needed by entrepreneurs to be successful. 

Pupils have had a busy few weeks preparing for a visit to Liverpool Road to conduct market research with a selection of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In small teams they produced a survey to explore how enterprises use market research to find out about their customer needs and competitor behaviour, and how internal and external factors may have both positive and negative impact on their day-to-day life.  

As part of their research, students were assigned timeslots offered by the business owners and this was a really valuable lesson for students in realising the businesses would be fully operational during their time with them and they would be in the same space as paying customers. 

All of the groups were polite and respectful, and whilst the objective was to obtain scripted quantitative data from the local area, it was a pleasure to see students develop confidence in exploring more qualitative methods to fully understand each business and the points the owners were making.

ICT & Business & Enterprise teacher, Miss Gregson, said, “I want to recognise the initiative and ambition of three of our students who were also able to secure work experience with two of the businesses. Congratulations Ellis T, Taejuan S and Archie I!”

Marie Holmes Estate Agency Talk

On Monday, 27 January, we welcomed Marie Holmes from Marie Holmes Estate Agents into school. For almost an hour, the students engaged in an in-depth conversation about Marie's background, her ambition and current portfolio.

Miss Gregson rounded off by saying, “We have been overwhelmed by how supportive and accommodating Penwortham’s business community has been during this experience. We especially want to thank all the business owners who made this market research possible and took valuable time out of their day to talk with our students: AJ Busfield, Artisan Deli, Andreas Chip Shop, Cow Shed, Bubbles & Bark, Marie Holmes Estate Agents, Penwortham Carpets, Peter Booths Opticians, Playspace, The Hidden Hut, Ribble Vets Penwortham and Roberts & Co. “