Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        Any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        Any prejudicial interests or

·        Any disclosable pecuniary interests

Which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2014.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting of the Entrepreneurship in York Schools held on Wednesday 17 September 2014 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Board’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5pm the working day before the meeting, in this case 5pm on Friday 31 October 2014.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officers for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides further information in support of the ongoing review on Entrepreneurship in York Schools, and asks the Task Group to agree the next stages for progressing the work on this review.

Members considered a report that provided further information in support of the ongoing review on Entrepreneurship in York Schools and asked the Task Group to agree the next stages for progressing the review.

The Chair welcomed representatives from NYBEP (North Yorkshire Business Education Partnership), Westfield Primary School, Osbaldwick Primary School, York Children’s University, York’s Federation of Small Businesses, Aviva and Natwest and asked them to comment on their current entrepreneurship offers. She explained that the feedback would help the Task Group recognise good practice and allow them to identify appropriate sources of employability and enterprise related activities for York schools. 

Members were informed that various opportunities were currently on offer in York and that links through York Cares and the Children’s University had made it possible for some primary school children to engage with and attend programs run by Aviva and Natwest. 

Representatives from both companies explained how they had worked with the children on either advertising or banking activities. They agreed the programs were a huge success and they were very impressed by the level of professionalism and innovative proposal’s from such a young age.

The Federation of Small Businesses representative confirmed they had worked with over 6000 young people in York schools supporting careers and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities.

NYBEP confirmed that they also supplied a range of enterprise and business related events and challenges to York schools, including supporting Lord Young’s fiver challenge which allowed the children to start their own business from a £5 loan. She agreed that York had a large number of entrepreneurial activities available although some strategic overview and collation of them was required to improve access for  all schools  . It was noted that NYBEP’s and yor-zone websites also contained an excellent source of entrepreneurial information.

The Head of Westfield Primary School raised an issue regarding communication gaps between some schools the Council and Councillors. She felt that primary school children could be under estimated and should be given a pupil voice that was listened to more especially in some activities that seemed to only be open to secondary schools.

She stated that Westfield were actively involved in the York Care’s modules and agreed that these offers should be taking place from primary school age. She confirmed that the fiver challenge had taught her pupils about the world of enterprise and had been a huge success within her school.

The Head of Osbaldwick Primary School informed the Task Group that they had been involved in entrepreneurial activities for many years and had won various awards including the Primary level at Venturefest. She stated that the school actively uses York Cares and the Children’s University schemes and her priority was to ensure these opportunities were sustained and not eradicated like.

In answer to Members questions regarding the attitudes towards entrepreneurship from boys and girls it was felt that primary school children were on a similar level but in secondary schools the STEM figures showed attitudes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.