Business ideas are blossoming for schoolkids

TEN teams of entrepreneurial pupils showed off their business acumen at an event at Hull Truck Theatre. The teams, from ten primary schools, all took part in the Make £5 Blossom event, run by Hull Ready.

Each school was matched with a business mentor from the city. Business mentors provided schools with a loan of £150 for them to make a profit through a business idea. Teams then turned their idea into profit and were at Hull Truck this week to present them.

Employment and youth enterprise manager at the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership, Charles Cracknell, said: "We had ten primary schools and ten businesses showing what they have done with their loans to show how enterprising they are.

"There is no doubt that Hull's future is secure with these youngsters.

"This can only work with the support of various businesses and without them it would not happen.

"There was a profit made but, more importantly, a lot of fun was had."

Pupils from Endsleigh Primary School, in Inglemire Avenue, north Hull, made an academic calendar that contained all the important school dates. To add to the calendar they have put recipes on for parents to follow.

Joe Muir, 10, said: "We were going to do recipes, but then we made it into a calendar as well with all the school dates.

"My favourite recipe was the muffin recipe.

"I enjoyed the presentation day too and watching what all the other schools had done."

Millie Cavill, 11, said: "I really enjoyed it when we did our presentation. My favourite recipe is the muffins too and there are stir-frys and soups.

"We are going to do another calendar for next year and Charles said he would sponsor it."

Other ideas included stalls at Christmas fairs, selling gardening tools, making and selling pizzas and designing and selling Christmas cards.

Youngsters at Griffin Primary School in Barham Road, east Hull, were partnered with the Mail for the challenge, working alongside deputy managing director Richard Duxbury.  The school produced a book about Hull and are selling it for £2.50.

Stuart Bateman, class teacher, said: "The kids have done really well, they managed to explain what it was we did and overcame some nerves.

"The four pupils will go back to school and report to the rest of the class."

http://www.hullready.co.uk/