Pupils from The Swinton High School talked business this week with Manchester United Managing Director Richard Arnold and British fashion designer Beatrix Ong MBE for a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style enterprise event.
Students from each year group presented their ideas in front of the panel of judges who took time out of their schedules to pass on their advice from the top of the sport and fashion industries.
The winners of the enterprise event were a group of year nine students who pitched the idea of having food vans based on the culinary delights of Manchester United’s star signings. The group were also left in shock as the Manchester United Managing Director extended a personal invite to visit Old Trafford and create some of the dishes with the club’s head chef.
Lucy, who was one of the winning pupils, was excited by the prospect of spending a day at the Theatre of Dreams. She said, “We’ve very grateful for the opportunity to go to Old Trafford and see how the business side of things work. I think it will definitely benefit us for future projects and hopefully the whole school if we can come back and share our experience.”
Mark Harrison, the head teacher at The Swinton High School, was also quick to praise the work with the Foundation and the impact on the 700 pupils in within the school. He said, “The partnership has been huge for us. It’s been about raising the aspirations of the children, it’s about exposing them to new things and really about building their confidence. Something we’ve focused on through the partner schools programme is developing leadership skills which I think came through strongly during today’s enterprise event.”
Richard Arnold, who is also the chairman of Manchester United Foundation, was impressed with the calibre of the presentations and the work happening in the Salford school. He said, “I’m always amazed when I visit the partner schools and the fantastic ideas and creativity that the kids have. Hopefully we can get the winners to Old Trafford and inspire them for bigger and better things.”
Richard added, “It’s pivotal for us to have that relationship with kids in the local area and it’s important for us as a club to be able to put back into the local community, build links for the future and see kids thriving like they are at this school; it’s really rewarding for everyone.”
