The DYW Dundee & Angus team recently worked in partnership with the Social Enterprise Academy to deliver two workshops for teachers, giving an introduction to running a social enterprise in schools. These sessions were open to any primary or secondary teachers who wanted to find out how to set up and operate a successful social enterprise in their school.

Social Enterprise Schools supports the development of enterprise, employability and entrepreneurial skills in young people. A local co-ordinator can go into schools to help develop an understanding of the social enterprise business model and how it creates a positive impact, and provides hands-on experience of setting up and running a social enterprise. These teacher CPD sessions (one in Dundee and one in Angus) introduced the teachers to the local co-ordinator, Nicola Henderson Michie. Facilitators who have run a successful social enterprise themselves talked participants through the process, giving them hints and tips, and best practice examples, to inspire them as to what might be possible in their school.

The main points included:

  • Be inspired – tutors can come and work with pupils to help them develop their ideas. For a social enterprise to be successful it has to benefit a cause the pupils feel strongly about and create a positive impact – it’s more than just about raising money.
  • Build your social enterprise – there are lots of resources and templates you can access to ensure you create a successful and sustainable business model.
  • Celebrate – the Social Enterprise Academy hosts annual awards to highlight all the great projects going on across Scotland.

Setting up and running a social enterprise covers many curriculum areas and experience & outcomes including employability skills, core skills, thinking, leadership, global citizenship and entrepreneurship. The teachers who attended our sessions really benefited from the inspiration it gave them and have gone back to their schools full of ideas. The hope is that we will be able to run a Dragon’s Den style challenge in the next academic session, where the young people can pitch their ideas to a panel of experts who will guide them on their social aim and trading ideas.

If you are interested in getting involved contact Nicola Henderson Michie – nicola@socialenterprise.academy