HERO Information & Resources

HERO Update

The aim of the HERO project is to develop an enterprising culture amongst young people in Blackpool, hence contributing towards their future employability and economic well-being. It takes time to establish a culture shift and the initial phase of the delivery of the project has been spent recruiting and developing the team of enterprise education specialists who are committed to achieving the long term outcomes of the project.

  • Every school in Blackpool now has a 0.5 Enterprise Facilitator in post (8 mainstream secondary and 3 special schools)
  • Blackpool and the Fylde College has 2 part time Curriculum Development Managers in post
  • Blackpool 6th Form College has an Enterprise Officer in post
  • A full time Schools’ Enterprise Officer has been recruited to manage the day to day operational activity in schools
  • Enterprise champion nominated in Beneast, trialling new enterprise initiatives

Progress so far:

  • Awareness campaign launched in every school and college during National Enterprise Week, www.blackpoolhero.co.uk has gone live.
  • 4500 HERO magazines distributed to young people in schools, colleges, and work based learning providers
  • Over 500 year 9 and 10 pupils engaged in enterprise specific activity since September
  • 58 teachers and non teaching staff have actively taken part in an enterprise specific CPD activity. (These include PFEG Workshop (Personal Finance Education Group), 2 NFTE Training days to launch and deliver a new entrepreneurship based qualification in 4 schools, 2 enterprise specific network meetings). CPD menu has been designed to allow schools to choose according to their needs.
  • 8 schools took part in the National Make Your Mark Challenge (none last year) and students competed in a competition called Globalocal to design a service or product which would benefit Blackpool, but have a global impact. St Mary’s have been selected to proceed to the NW final on Friday 23rd November at Liverpool Football Club, for their idea “Biobubble” which is a bio-degradable chewing gum.
  • 73 pupils took part in the first ever Blackpool Schools’ Enterprise Challenge held at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in conjunction with Get Started . This event was sponsored by Abbey, The Pleasure Beach, 2am Design and a local accountancy firm. Pupils worked in teams to win a contract to run a business in an empty unit at The Pleasure Beach. They had to design a concept, write a business plan and present to a panel of experts. Prizes were awarded for Best Product, Most Innovative idea, Best Business Plan and Best Overall Team.
  • Dragon’s Den competition at Blackpool and The Fylde College – judged by the Mayor.
  • Beacon Hill High School became the first school in Lancashire to be assessed for the Excellence in Enterprise Award, we will know the results of this visit in 2-3 weeks time. The award is administered by the Centre for Education and Industry.

These are highlights of the project so far, and there are lots of examples of additional enterprise education activity taking place, surrounding curriculum design and development, planning of Blackpool Youth Enterprise Awards, and a post 16 competition. In January we will be commencing work with Educational Diversity to develop enterprise education activities for learners not in traditional education – these include Pupil Referral Units and Home/hospital education, specifically aimed at reducing future NEET figures.

If you require any further information regarding the HERO project please do not hesitate to contact Nicola Hall via email Nicola.hall@beacon-hill.blackpool.sch.uk or on 0845 402 8994. It is imperative that HERO works with the local business community of Blackpool to make these learning experiences real for our young people.

Please see below for some examples of quotes from young people that were taken from the evaluation:

Pupil comments from the evaluation of Blackpool Schools’ Enterprise Challenge:

It has given me more confidence

It will help me to work better with people

The day has given me practical business experience that I can use during my business studies course at school

I now realise how hard it is to start a business!

I have learnt new skills today

This has helped with my teamwork and public speaking skills

From the evaluation forms completed by pupils from this one day they recognised that the activities during the day helped them to develop the following skills:

Team work

Self-belief
Generating ideas
Decision making
Working as a team
Communication skills

Planning

Understanding & responding to the needs of others
Problem solving
Understanding money and finance
Knowledge of the business world
Consideration of future aspirations