Chairman Sharon Brittan spent Tuesday morning at Belmont Community Primary School, celebrating a class of Year 5 and 6 pupils who have spent the summer term setting up and running their own businesses.
The visit marked the finale of “Start Your Own Business”, an enterprise project devised, delivered and personally funded by Bolton accountant and business owner Naomi Scholfield. Naomi ran the project free of charge and paid for the children’s start-up investment herself, giving every pupil a hands-on experience of what it takes to build a business from an idea.
Over eight weeks of the summer term the children came up with their own business ideas, carried out market research with real customers, built a business plan, worked out their costs and pricing and pitched for investment in a Dragons’ Den style session. They then ran their businesses for real at the school summer fair earlier this month, before returning to class to go through their results and reflect on what had worked.
On Tuesday, each of the four business groups presented to Sharon in turn, sharing what they had created, the profit they had made and the lessons they had taken from the experience. Sharon listened to every pitch and offered feedback and encouragement, drawing on her own career in business and her seven years leading Bolton Wanderers.
The children then put their own questions to her, covering everything from the club to business and life in general. Sharon spoke about the importance of following your dreams and never giving up, of hard work and having the courage to have a go even when things feel daunting and of staying honest and treating everyone you meet with the same kindness and respect.
She was candid, too, about the highs and lows that come with any journey, and about the club being something rebuilt by a great many people rather than any one person.
Perhaps the most memorable moment came right at the end, when one of the pupils told Sharon that she inspires young children. In keeping with her style, Sharon turned the compliment straight back to the class, telling them it was they who had inspired her.
Naomi said: “Watching these children grow in confidence over the past eight weeks has been the highlight of my year. They have worked incredibly hard, and to have Sharon come in and hear how they got on meant the world to them. Many of them are Wanderers supporters and having someone who has built something real in their own community take the time to listen to their ideas and answer their questions is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. I am so grateful to Sharon and to Bolton Wanderers for making today so special.”
Sharon added: “To spend the morning with these children was a real privilege. Every group had thought carefully about their idea, done the hard work and could tell me exactly what they had learned along the way. Their engagement was wonderful to see and they asked me some brilliant questions. They are a credit to Naomi, to their teachers and to their school.
“Running a business teaches you skills that stay with you for life. Courage, resilience, working as a team and the confidence to believe in your own ideas. If today gives even one of them the belief to follow their own idea one day, it will have been worth every minute. Working with our community, and with young people in particular, is one of the greatest privileges this club gives me and I came away inspired by every one of them.”
Sharon would like to thank Naomi for all she has given these pupils and everyone at Belmont Community Primary School for such a warm and memorable morning.