NEWS
AYRSHIRE SCHOOL PUPILS RUN MICRO-BUSINESSES
LEARN 4 WORK
We partnered with the Ayrshire Chamber , East Ayrshire Council and Doon Academy to set S3 pupils a workplace challenge for the Learn 4 Work project .
As a part of the Developing the Young Workforce initiative , East Ayrshire Council are aiming to bridge the gap between employers and secondary school pupils . The challenge was designed to provide pupils with an understanding of the world of work , possible career routes , entrepreneurship and responsibilities and duties in the workplace .
The challenge took place on Wednesday 31st May 2017 to Friday 2nd June 2017 . The pupils were invited to the Kilmarnock Campus for a tour of the facilities and to complete a marketing photo challenge . The challenge for the pupils was to recommend how best to promote careers to school leavers . The pupils did a fantastic job completing the challenge and were a credit to Doon Academy .
School Pupils in several Ayrshire secondary schools have been setting up their own microbusinesses . Greenwood Academy started Lovilicious Nail Bar last year which offered a group of pupils the chance to gain qualifications in basic nail treatments .
Prestwick Academy has followed by starting the Stiletto Gals Nail Bar ( with funding from DYW Ayrshire and Princes Trust ). This has been running since the start of term with Lecturer , Cheryl Smith . Pupils will gain a Personal Development Award for setting up the business and Creative Nail Finishes and Nail Art Level 5 qualifications . The English department within the school has also created relevant Literacy skills at National 5 level to support the pupils .
Prestwick Academy pupils are also pedalling their way to a qualification in bike maintenance this term , with Engineering Lecturer Sarah Taylor . James Mason , one of the pupils taking the class , said “ I want to work in motor mechanics and I can use the skills I learn from this class to help me , as it gives me the basic background knowledge of mechanics .” James is hoping to get a Modern Apprenticeship with Arnold Clark this year .
SECTOR INFORMATION EVENINGS
During April the Developing the Young Workforce Team welcomed pupils and their parents to the Ayr and Kilmarnock campuses for Sector Information evenings .
Pupils that applied for school-college courses in engineering , early education and computing were invited to come along and hear all about these sectors . The hugely successful events offered pupils and their parents the chance to speak to the course lecturer on a one to one basis and answer any questions they had about college .
Invited guests Alan Roseweir , Strathclyde University Engineering Academy , Martin Duffy , Microtech and Simon Foster from Spirit AeroSystems attended the information evenings and offered pupils the opportunity to enquire about the types of skills and qualifications the companies are looking for from the future workforce .