Foreword. I look forward to future bulletins sharing the success stories and accomplishments of pupils working in our BESCs.

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1 Issue No: 1

2 Foreword On 17 August 2011, Cabinet approved the establishment of individual Business Enterprise and Skills Centre programmes in each of the nine East Ayrshire secondary schools. Cabinet also welcomed the involvement of local and national business leaders working with our schools to support and challenge Headteachers in the development of the BESCs. These Centres will be designed to encourage young people to develop entrepreneurial skills and to inspire and motivate them to be successful in the world of work in the 21st century. Success will be measured by every school leaver in East Ayrshire cultivating skills and attitudes which make them business ready and equipped to work in traditional and developing industries such as construction, life sciences, renewables, hospitality and food and drink. In addition, the BESC programme aims to encourage young people to be creative and willing to take risks in establishing their own businesses. We want them to be our next generation of business leaders - inspiring us with their own successful enterprises based in East Ayrshire. Young people are our future. They have the drive, energy and creativity to help regenerate our economy. Our emphasis in the BESC programmes is on giving them the tools to be able to do the job. I would like to thank national and local business leaders who have supported our schools in the planning and development of the Centres. I look forward to their continued support as we move to the implementation phase, where we will see the centres established and begin to shape the skills and attitudes of our young people. I look forward to future bulletins sharing the success stories and accomplishments of pupils working in our BESCs. Councillor Douglas Reid Leader of East Ayrshire Council

3 Welcome to the first issue of the Business Enterprise and Skills Centre (BESC) Bulletin. Bulletins will be issued four times per year to report on progress and on: targets achieved pupil engagement business links good news stories key dates and events programme and qualifications developments staff appointments Business leaders Following the announcement of the 1million fund for the establishment of BESCs and the drafting of the school proposals, a number of local and well known national business leaders pledged their support to help schools and Headteachers deliver the aims and objectives outlined in their proposals. The business leaders will adopt a range of roles. directly to schools: Several will be linked Heather Dunk, Principal and Chief Executive, Kilmarnock College will support Stewarton and Loudoun Academies, Ian and Ann Hope, Hope Homes, will support Auchinleck and Cumnock Academies The Hunter Foundation will support e-commerce developments in Grange, Kilmarnock and James Hamilton Academies Marie Macklin, Chief Executive, KLIN Group will work with St Joseph s and Doon Academies along with Craig Stevenson Managing Director, Braehead Foods/Cook School Scotland, who will continue to work at St Joseph s Keith Murray, Managing Director, Lochaven Internationa,l is also keen to work with schools to be identified in the near future Other business leaders such as Norman Drummond of Drummond International/Columba 1400,;Dr Peter Hughes OBE Chief Executive, Scottish Engineering; William Mackie, Clydesdale Bank/Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce; Mark Strudwick Chief Executive, the Prince s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT); and Sir Tom Hunter, will support all BESCs through their involvement in seminars and workshops for staff and young people and it is also hoped that they will take a role providing support and challenge at authority level.

4 Schools are looking forward to close associations with these key partners to assist with the development of young people who are business ready and who will move on to positive destinations with a range of relevant skills and qualifications. Headteacher appointments Since the announcement of the BESC programme, new Headteachers have been appointed at Auchinleck, Doon and Kilmarnock Academies. Headteacher Contacts Establishment Head of Telephone External Address Establishment Auchinleck Peter Gilchrist peter.gilchrist@eastayrshire.gov.uk Cumnock Angus McVake angus.mcvake@eastayrshire.gov.uk Doon John MacKenzie john.mackenzie@eastayrshire.gov.uk Grange Fred Wildridge fred.wildridge@eastayrshire.gov.uk James Hamilton Janis Teale janis.teale@eastayrshire.gov.uk Kilmarnock Bryan Paterson bryan.paterson@eastayrshire.gov.uk Loudoun Peter Flood peter.flood@eastayrshire.gov.uk St Joseph's Alan Ward alan.ward@eastayrshire.gov.uk / Stewarton Sandra Leslie sandra.leslie@eastayrshire.gov.uk

5 BESC school co-ordinators meeting School co-ordinators met on Wednesday 31 August to discuss targets and procurement of equipment, as well as reporting on progress, with schools agreeing on how to move forward. Schools will launch their BESCs at different times over the next few months. Links will be made with the business leaders and other businesses to support the development of the centres. The group agreed to meet regularly to update on progress and share ideas. Forthcoming events 10 November 2011 Young person and business leaders seminar This seminar will allow young people to work together with the business leaders to develop new skills and to plan further developments in their own BESCs. Tom Hunter will deliver a keynote address and support the work done during the seminar and workshops. January PSYBT - Your first steps into business Pupils will hear directly from young entrepreneurs who have recently established their own businesses. This event, facilitated by PSYBT and partners, will deliver interactive workshops to young people from the BESCs, as well as invited students from college and university. Workshops will be led by PSYBT and supported by young entrepreneurs from PSYBT businesses. This will build on the November event hosted by business leaders. 17 February 2012 Teachers and business leaders enterprise seminar Staff will be able to work closely with business leaders who initially engaged with the programme, as well as with new and existing business links, to

6 further develop the courses delivered within the BESCs. This will ensure that they are delivering a range of relevant skills and qualifications which will make our young people business ready so that local employers are able to employ local people with the skills and attributes that their businesses need. Business enterprise and skills centres summaries BESCs will be established in each of our secondary schools and will aim to achieve the following outcomes: Increased number of positive and sustained destinations for young people young people properly prepared for the world of work. young people who are successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. The centres will help pupils to develop the skills required in the Scottish industry growth sectors of tourism, food and drink production, life sciences, finance and business, creative industries, energy and renewables. Schools will focus on developing skills that address skills gaps such as planning and organising, problem solving, customer handling and team working. St Joseph s St Joseph s proposes to establish an Enterprise within the school. All pupils will benefit from participation in the. It will deliver accredited qualifications related to enterprise and entrepreneurship; school based businesses; and work simulations with access to internships, work experience and business mentors. Doon Doon s BESC will support young people in learning entrepreneurial and retail skills. This will be linked to the opening of a school shop in Dalmellington town centre and an online business with a focus on selling products manufactured in the school, along with other stock. Kilmarnock The school s BESC will provide young people with the opportunity to improve literacy skills through running a school radio station. The school also plans to establish a school cafe to develop entrepreneurial and hospitality skills

7 through the provision of catering at lunchtimes and for school events. The final part of the programme is to develop practical skills in the design and manufacture of products for online sales. Auchinleck/Cumnock Academies A pre-apprenticeship centre will be opened in the Knockroon development supported by locally-based Hope Homes. The BESC will be situated within one of the new business units in the development and will provide pupils from both Auchinleck and Cumnock Academies with the opportunity to learn construction trades, supported by tradesmen on site. James Hamilton This proposal aims to introduce a range of vocational training and practical skills development to allow young people to develop key skills for life, learning and work. These will include practical skills such as painting and decorating; entrepreneurial skills in setting up and running a school shop; the design, production and selling of items for the shop and the development of skills in creative digital media - an expanding industry in Scotland. Grange Young people from S1-S6 will develop a range of design, manufacturing, marketing, e-commerce and retail skills through the use of industry-standard equipment which will be used to produce a range of plastic, wood and metal products to be sold online. The work of the young people will be supported by a range of partners including the Hunter Foundation and local manufacturing firms. Loudoun A BESC will be established in a refurbished area of the school to deliver programmes that develop business skills linked to tourism, finance, business and creative Industries. Young people will work with business partners gaining skills in the hospitality sector and explore the skills required in setting up and running their own business. There will also be the opportunity to design, make and sell products created in school. Stewarton The proposal is in its early stages of development and is planning to focus on the creation of working areas in the school to support the delivery of Advanced Higher and Baccalaureate programmes in partnership with other schools and universities. Plan is to focus on creative industries and the development of skills in creative digital media and performance.