Enterprise Workshops for Secondary Schools
The Oxford Trust is a charitable trust that sits at the heart of science and enterprise in Oxfordshire. We can deliver bespoke half and whole day interactive enterprise sessions for up to 80 students at a time, based on the menu of activities listed below. We also have links with many local technology businesses and entrepreneurs who are willing to make presentations on aspects of business and enterprise. These can be incorporated into sessions run by us or we can contact them on your behalf for other events run by the school.
All activities can be tailored to suit Years 9-13.
Science Enterprise - From Discovery to Product
This activity takes a real scientific discovery e.g. nanotubes and asks the students to brainstorm applications for it. Working in groups, students pick an application and put together an investor pitch for it, which is presented to the whole group. The group then votes for the application they think would make the most money. As part of this exercise, students look at unique selling points, customers, competitors and marketing.
Protecting Your Idea
An interactive session exploring the topic of intellectual property, why it is so important for successful businesses and how you can protect ideas from being copied by others. Using real patents, students have to guess the invention from the patent claims and trademarks.
Pricing Strategies and Sales Negotiation Role Play
Managing finances is an essential skill for any business and these activities look at cash flow, costs and profit margins, using case studies for the students to work through. There can also be a design and manufacturing element incorporated with students using the construction kit K’Nex to make a product based on set costs. This is followed by a negotiation role play where pairs of students act as sellers and buyers who have to secure a deal in a given time frame. At the end of the session the group looks at which pair managed to get the best deal and why.
Symbol of Success
This activity involves the students building a scale model of a tower using paper tubes, nuts and bolts. Students are given a design brief outlining the height, weight it has to support and price of the tubes and joints. This activity incorporates engineering and maths skills as well as practice in working to a brief.
Enterprise Decision Game
This game leads players through the highs and lows of setting up and running a business by providing a series of decisions for them to make. The game looks at all aspects of running a technology business such as patenting, sales and marketing, finances, recruitment and expansion.
Ways to be Innovative
Activities that get students thinking innovatively using familiar, everyday objects as inspiration. Students have to think about what was used before a particular product was invented, why this invention is better and what future products could do. Real life case studies of inventions such as the Dyson vacuum cleaner and Lego are used.
Starters and Ice Breakers
Based on familiar game shows, these fun starter activities look at important inventors from the past and explore the important difference between invention and innovation.
Costs
Workshop costs are flexible, depending on the number of students and the activities involved, but as a guide the minimum costs are £120 + VAT for half a day or £200 + VAT for a full day.
For further information and booking please contact Jo Hodges, jo.hodges@oxtrust.org.uk or Dr Amanda Nolte, amanda.nolte@oxtrust.org.uk or 01865 728953.