Sponsors
Week 1
Team name: Happy Paws
Tell us what you have been doing this week
Nicky from Oak Tree Animal Trust has been supporting us to learn more about business and what would make it successful. We have split our class into teams related to the business, and our Director and assistant have written a business plan for 'Happy Paws'.
What did you learn this week?
We learnt about key words such as 'expenditure' and 'profit' and discussed how we could track these in order to make our venture successful. We were interviewed by Nicky, Mr Davis and Miss Williams. They asked us questions about our experiences in the jobs we wanted to do for our team.
What did you find difficult this week?
We found it difficult to choose areas of the business we wanted to work in, so held interviews. We used our strengths in certain areas to align with the needs of the role.
Learning about expenditure and profit, using examples so that we can make our business work!
Nicky Williams has been helping us with our project.
Brampton Food Bank told us about the amazing work that they do.
Week 2
Tell us what you have been doing this week
We were visited by some volunteers from Brampton Food Bank who told us about the food bank and how it helps people. They told us about the history of the Food Bank, and how it started in America. We got to look at the type of food and supplies they share with people so that their lives are improved. We also found out about the circumstances of people who visit the food bank.
What did you learn this week?
We learned how important the food bank is to people, especially to people who live in villages like ours. The food bank can deliver items to those who really need it. We asked them if they helped animals because our business is about pet toys. They told us that that they do!
What did you find difficult this week?
It was tough to hear that sometimes people choose to feed their own pets before themselves and that the food bank is busier during the summer when children are off school. It made us want to help!
Week 3
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week we worked with Nicky to think about our business plan. The directors, James and Izzy worked with Mr Davis our teacher to make one. We had to think about what kind of thing we are making and how it would help our community. The directors worked hard to complete it, but first we had a brainstorming session with the team, where we shared our collective ideas for the business and the plan we have to write.
What did you learn this week?
We learnt that we have to plan things properly or we won't know what to do with our business. It was difficult to agree on a decision, so things were left to James our Director. He found disappointing people tough, but we all knew it was so that the business can be the best it can be.
What did you find difficult this week?
it was hard to write the plan and think about how to spend money to begin with.
Week 4
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week we have been choosing a logo for our business and creating a poster. Nicky talked to us about what should and shouldn't be included in our marketing. We have made posters and logos and the directors are going to choose the one they want us to use.
What did you learn this week?
We need to have a bright logo which is easy to recognise. Our poster should be clear and informative but with not too much information in the form of writing. We looked at examples of posters and used good ideas for amounts of words and bold colour choices and then each member of the class made one
What did you find difficult this week?
James found it hard to choose his favourite logo but he had to make a hard decision. He decided to choose one that had a clear image that would advertise our pet business easily.
Week 5
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week we have been making our final pet toy, the snuffle toy, following video instructions sent to us by our leaders at Oak Tree Animal Charity.
We have also spent some time with the school business manager, creating an online shop where parents can purchase products over the half term.
What did you learn this week?
We worked really hard on our USP. We decided that our handmade crocheted toys would be unique. Our crochet team worked really hard to create these and our school had an extra-curricular crochet club to support the making of the toys.
It was a fantastic school effort!
What did you find difficult this week?
We ran out of materials which made things difficult. We have spent extra money ordering some more, and Mr Davis explained that the finance team will need to take this into account at the end.
Week 6 - half term
Week 7
Tell us what you have been doing this week
Trading started this week for our company. We have displayed our poster in the school and community noticeboard and have emailed mums and dads and used our newsletter to ask people to buy our toys.
We have put the toys for sale on our online school account.
What did you learn this week?
We remembered the things Nicky had discussed with us when talking about marketing so had a logo, bright colours and just the right information (not too much or too little).
What did you find difficult this week?
We were going to sell our products on a stall on our sports day, but it was cancelled because of the rain. We hope we can re-arrange this.
Week 8
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This week, we have been getting ready to deliver our toys.
We asked our office staff to print off a report that shows our online orders and delivered them to the children of parents who have ordered them.
We discussed how it should be our customer service team who does this, and decided that they should thank our customers.
We also planned a rearranged Sports Dale sale. We knew that most traffic would be in school on that morning so we had our marketing team design posters to advertise our products and then placed a table next to the entrance/exit to our school field.
What did you learn this week?
We learned how important it is to speak to customers nicely.
We talked about our own experiences and how it makes us want to go back to people who have been nice to us in all areas of our lives. We remembered the nice people who have served us food or in hotels or holidays.
What did you find difficult this week?
Our Customer Service team said that they found it hard to sell the products because people were walking by or did not always stop to talk.
However they did do fantastically and made another £55!
Week 9
Tell us what you have been doing this week
This we we have made reflections on our business. We split into groups and scribed onto a large piece of paper, words that we think of when we think of Bright Stars. We spoke about how proud we are of how we worked together, how resilient we had to be during the difficult times and how amazing we felt to be helping the community by donating gifts to the Food Bank.
What did you learn this week?
We learned that we are brilliant! We worked together and met the challenge to create a business that made a profit and helped others in the process.
What did you find difficult this week?
For pupils to answer:
In one sentence please tell us what bright stars has meant to you?
Bright Stars has taught us that even though businesses are tough, especially at the beginning they can really work if you do the right things. We feel that we could support others in the same position
For teachers to answer:
Can you tell us the impact this programme has had on your school?
The competition has given our learners an invaluable insight into business. Learning processes and key parts of vocabulary, they have followed the route with passion and have a real sense of achievement, not only in a profitable business idea, but that they have supported members of our community who might be in need.
Please provide your business plan.
Please provide your marketing plan.
Please provide your finance report/template.
Charity name/money donated to.
Oak Tree Animal Charity
Final profit (minus the £50 seed funding).
£198.06
