Bright Stars (now in its tenth year) is an eight-week programme designed to introduce Cumbrian primary school children to leadership, entrepreneurship and the world of business.  It is organised and project-managed by the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP) and delivered in partnership with local businesses.  They link a business to a school over the 8 weeks and help the children set up and run a successful social enterprise business. The idea will be to make a difference and make a profit.

Not only will the programme encourage leadership and enterprise from a young age, but it will also build relationships and forge greater links between businesses and their local primary schools, as well as the communities around them.

This is a great development opportunity for businesses and will also help any social value responsibility you may have.

Businesses will be partnered with a local school and over the 8-week programme, schools are tasked to set up their own mini business with the objective this year “To make a profit and make a difference, to follow the very best examples of self-sustaining social enterprise.” There’s also the chance for schools to win a £100 cash prize for best idea, example of teamwork and so on.

There are many benefits to your business:

• Develop on-going links with local primary schools and communities
• Connect young people to your organisation and make them aware of what you do
• Demonstrating and being recognised as a responsible employer
• Helps deliver company social value performance metrics
• Develop your own team in the process
• Connect with other Cumbrian businesses
• Supporting the community through charity work, linking with schools and activities
• Company branding on all marketing materials
• Company name on the CforLP website and hyperlink to your company page
• Access to training and support throughout the programme

Please see below a list of schools wishing to take part that still need a business to mentor them to develop their social enterprise businesses:

• Parkview Nursery – Barrow area
• Penny Bridge CE Academy – Barrow area
• St Margaret Mary’s School – Carlisle – want to be linked to a STEM business
• Asby Endowed School – Penrith/Eden
• Castle Carrock School, south of Brampton
• Clifton Primary School Penrith/Eden
• Hayton CofE Primary School – Brampton
• Langwathby – Penrith/Eden
• Morland Area CofE Primary – Penrith/Eden
• Broughton Moor Primary School – Allerdale
• Dearham Primary – Allerdale
• Derwent Vale – Allerdale
• Distington Primary – Allerdale
• Kirkbride Primary – Allerdale
• Richmond Hill – Allerdale
• St Bridget’s Brigham – Allerdale
• St Matthew’s CofE School – Allerdale
• Westfield Nursery and Primary School – Allerdale

It is a Cumbria wide programme so open to all primary schools across the county, running between May and July. In terms of commitment it’s asked that each business will visit their school twice over the 8-week competition and also virtually at least once a week for 40 mins to an hour.  All resources are provided – suggested weekly lesson plans, business plan templates, marketing plan templates, finance templates etc and free training so this is a great opportunity to build your skills and build your profile in the local community.

For full details about Bright Stars, you can view the brochure here. To find out more contact Sarah Glass, Executive Director on sarah.glass@cforlp.org.uk or 07809 436190.