Latest Football Club Enterprise Academy launch
Newcastle United launched the latest Enterprise Academy on the 19th May 2009 with support from Regional Development Agency (RDA) One North East.
The Enterprise Academy initiative was outlined in Enterprise: unlocking the UK’s talent the Government’s Enterprise White Paper published in March 2008. The latest launch sees Newcastle joins Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the effort to create a culture of enterprise across the UK.
The clubs use football as a key engagement tool to introduce young people to the world of work and enterprise, using the club as a real life case study to improve students’ perceptions of business in a way they can relate to and understand. Football related enterprise challenges are created, which see the students working in teams to design and create a new football strip or developing products which participants have to market and sell at a profit. Students benefit from an engaging programme of activity, improved enterprise skills, more self-confidence and raised aspirations.
The latest Enterprise Academy delivered by the Club’s charity, Newcastle United Foundation, aims to harness the city’s love of Newcastle United to not only stimulate young minds about business, but cement links between the club and its young supporters to last a lifetime.
At the launch of the NUFC Enterprise Academy 25 students took part in a Dragon’s Den style challenge at St James’ Park, pitching their idea for a new product for the Club shop to a panel of judges. The winning team, from King Edward VI School in Morpeth, came up with Fuoosic – a CD of the United players’ favourite tunes.
The scheme at Newcastle funded by One North East will offer Year 9 students the opportunity to work towards an OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) accredited course over ten weeks during curriculum time. Incentives to encourage successful completion of the course include free match tickets and visits from NUFC personalities.
The new Academy aims to run five courses each term or 15 courses over three terms, reaching approximately 375 students in one year, resulting in 3750 learning hours.
The Government and Premier League will roll out the enterprise programme to include all major football clubs, with support from RDA’s. EnterpriseUpfront will keep you updated on developments of the initiative.
For more information about Newcastle United Foundation contact Kate Bradley on 0844 372 1892 Ext 8477 or email kate.bradley@nufc.co.uk
The Newcastle United Enterprise Academy is a member of the Enterprising Places Network (EPN). To listen to a EPN podcast of the launch visit www.makeyourmark.org.uk/get_involved/the_enterprising_places_network