This year's refreshed Ignite programme has seen a record number of students across Staffordshire receiving lessons about business skills compared to last year.
Staffordshire County Council's Ignite programme, delivered by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, teaches students real-world enterprise skills through classroom learning, online modules and intensive workshops.
The programme, now in its sixth year, is being delivered across six colleges and nine schools, with 5,500 students receiving lessons. That is 1,000 more students compared to last year.
One of this year's students is 18-year-old Guy Williams, who signed up for Ignite at South Staffordshire College because his ambition is to launch his own business one day.
Guy said:
"The Ignite programme has definitely helped me move closer to my goal by giving me a better understanding of how businesses operate and what it takes to succeed. I feel more confident in my ability to plan, present, and think creatively."
More than 500 students enrolled on Ignite's online learning programme, while 225 attended intensive workshops.
Guy continued:
"I would definitely recommend Ignite to other students because it’s a great opportunity to learn real-life skills that you don’t always get in a normal classroom. It has been both enjoyable and useful, and I think it can benefit anyone who wants to improve their confidence and learn more about business."
New to this year's programme is the 'Ignite Pitch Challenge', which gives students the opportunity to take part in a Dragon’s Den-style competition. Participants will work in teams to develop a business idea and pitch it to a panel of judges, with vouchers and other prizes to be won.
The pitch challenge is planned to take place in the Autumn.
Robin Hall, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
“It’s fantastic to see a record number of young people taking part in Ignite and developing real, practical business skills.
“We want young people in Staffordshire to be ambitious and have the confidence to turn good ideas into something real. I’m looking forward to seeing those ideas come to life in our first Ignite Pitch Challenge.”
Ignite has helped more than 36,000 young people across the country to build confidence and develop skills in areas such as marketing, finance, business planning and teamwork.
For more information, visit Ignite Platform - Staffordshire Chambers.
