Enterprise Day
Dudley College Business Enterprise students have an Enterprise day every week which is unique to the academy. This dedicated day gives the students the opportunity to engage with businesses through a variety of exciting and diverse activities, all designed to help build your confidence and gain hands on business knowledge.
Activities Include:
Speaker Sessions - Be inspired by sharing a personal entrepreneurial journey
These usually take place one day a week and will last for approximately 90 minutes including a presentation and question and answer session.
Event Info
Guest Speaker: Tim Stillwell CEO Burrito Kitchen ex Apprentice Contestant –
Tim started his Business Burrito Kitchen with £500; he now has an exclusive deal with Westfields Shopping centres. Tim shared his inspirational entrepreneurial journey with us, proving what you can achieve with hard work and determination.
Student Quote
"It was very inspirational to see a fellow entrepreneur’s vision become real life, helping me set the pace for my own dream"
Mitchell Jones.
Master Classes - Find out how it is done
Similar to our speaker sessions, but with an emphasis on a particular business specialism associated with the Academy’s programme of study.
Event Info
Master Class with Dean Walton from Mask-arade at Solihull College. Dean gave a fantastic account of his rags to riches story of how an idea that was just for a bit of fun turned into a multi-million pound business. He also gave the students some free masks.
Student Quote
"This event was truly amazing. Dean spoke to us about the beginnings of Mask-Arad, how it then rocketed and became a successful well-recognised company that holds a licence to produce the images of many famous people. He also encouraged young entrepreneurs to really go for it, because you never know where you will be in a few years time."
Vimbai Rimayi
Business Challenges – Take up the challenge to set up a real-life business scenario
Business experts judge your success as you embark on your first real step into the world of business.
Event Info
Students visited Aldridge High School where they took part in a social enterprise challenge. They also designed a classroom for RAF Cosford.
Student Quote
"It was good to see what students in other colleges do for enterprise. Most presentations were still like school productions - that wouldn’t work in the business world - I could see how valuable the Academy is to us."
Georgina Wood
Company Visits - See business in action
You will get chance to look around businesses and find out what it takes to make it.
Event Info
Students visited Westfield Sports Cars along with Media students to film a video for the second part of their CIPS challenge.
Student Quote
"This was a really exciting opportunity that tested our presenting skills."
Dominic Allen
Business Mentors - Be guided in setting up your own business
Acting as a mentor, business people will offer advice as you get to grips with starting up your own micro-business.
Pitch for Investment - Become Peter Jones for the day
In true Dragons’ Den style, pitch to a panel of experts who have the money to invest in your business idea.
Networking Events
Event Info
The Skills Show at the NEC Birmingham provided the students with the opportunity to find out about a vast array of industry sectors and promote the academy - one of the students even met HRH Princess Ann.
Student Quote
"World skills presented us with a great opportunity to have a go at promoting. It was also fantastic to see lots of different types of careers, however, meeting HRH Princess Ann was a huge honour for me personally."
Jason Jones
Event Info
ISMM – Successful selling seminar at the Village Hotel Solihull gave students the opportunity to hear about ‘How Using Stories Can Bring Your Presentations to Life’ and ‘Delivering more with less - a recipe for business and staff motivation’. As well as gaining useful knowledge from the speakers, the students also made valuable business connections and had the chance to test their communication skills.
Student Quote
"The incorporation of storytelling into presentations can bring a flat presentation to life and keeps the audience curious, holds attention and inspires."
Prentice Kuda
Pitch for Employment - Future Employment
At the end of the academic year, you will have the opportunity to showcase your skills, knowledge and talents to a panel of local and national employers.
We have many National and Local patrons that help support us with these activities.
National Patrons
- HRH the Duke of York, Patron of the Peter Jones Foundation
- Grant Thornton UK LLP
- Phones International
- Metro Bank
- Ryman Ltd
- Seven Hills Group Ltd
- Red Letter Days
- Nat West
- Intuit
- Footwork First
- Softcat
- Canon (UKltf)
- Jessops
Local Patrons
- Black Country Federation of Small Businesses
- Wolverhampton Business Solutions
- Institute of Sales and Marketing Management
- Chartered Marketing Institute ,Black Country branch
- CIPS , Birmingham Branch
- Hot 500
- George Green Solicitors
- Black Country Chamber – Dudley Branch
- Grant Thornton UK LLP
- Rimstock
What Employer Say
Chris Brindley – Metro Bank
As well as our financial donations to the Peter Jones Foundation we have supported individuals with work experience and also post course employment. The recruits from the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy have proved to be some of the very best people we have in our Business. We recruit for attitude and train for skill, but recruits from the Enterprise Academy possess both.