ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS STUDIES – THE ... - Epsom College

ACADEMIC EPSOM
to Investment Award programme for students in the U6th.
Epsom is one of the first schools to offer this programme, which
is normally targeted at professionals in the financial services
sector.The challenging and innovative course investigates equities,
bonds, derivatives and other financial assets.
Also new is the Investment Club, run by Chemistry master
David Schofield, who spent 12 years working in the City in
investment banking before becoming a teacher. Open to L6th
students, the Investment Club takes part in the annual Shares4Schools
competition against other schools in the UK where participants are
provided with an investment pot of £1,500 and attempt to
maximise the value of their portfolio over an eight month period.
This competition, as well as the online IFS Student Investor
Challenge, which is entered by all L6th students, provides the
opportunity to develop analytical, team-working and business
skills, whilst bringing a “real world” approach to learning.
In addition,Young Enterprise (YE) is offered to L6th students as
an extra-curricular activity and one of this year’s YE companies,
Prism, has been particularly successful in winning the Best Marketing
Strategy trophy at the Surrey Finals of the YE competition.
Students also regularly attend Eton College’s Keynes Society
talks, while the Epsom College Economics and Enterprise Society,
organised by the students themselves, successfully arranges talks by
leading business luminaries. Recent speakers have included Jeff
Randall, former business editor at the BBC, Rob Shaw, joint
managing director of fashion chain Jack Wills, and Old Epsomian
Tony Fernandes, founder of AirAsia and the Tune Group.
COLLEGE YE COMPANY
BAGS MARKETING PRIZE
AT SURREY FINALS
A group of L6th formers took the trophy for
the Best Marketing Strategy at the Young
Enterprise Surrey Finals held at the School of
Management at Surrey University this term.
Prism, a company set up and run since last
September by 11 College students, was one
of nine finalists to win through from a field of
70 that competed in area competitions earlier
in the year.
The companies were judged on their trade
stand, company report and a presentation given
to a packed auditorium. At the beginning of
the evening, the students answered questions
from the judges while they manned their trade
stand and later told the audience about their
experiences and what they had learnt during
the year.
The standard of presentation was very high
and Prism was delighted to be awarded the Best
Marketing Strategy trophy, which was sponsored
by Proctor and Gamble.
The judges commended the enterprising
students on their approach to marketing the
company, which acts as a wholesaler to schools
in the area.
Prism has had a remarkably successful year
working on a variety of projects, including
selling friendship bracelets and candy canes and
importing “Onesies” from overseas. Well over
500 of the all-in-one tracksuits have now
been sold.
“The pupils have learnt a great deal about
innovation, business and the successful launching
of a company in an uncertain economic climate.
The fact that they were judged as having the
best marketing strategy out of 70 companies
speaks highly of the calibre of the pupils,” said
Head of YE, Lizzie Irvine.
www.epsomcollege.org.uk
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