Albion in the Community and American Express providing pupils with a Schools Business Masterclass
More than 80 pupils across four local schools have taken part in a football-themed business programme run by Albion in the Community (AITC) and American Express.
AITC’s Schools Business Masterclasses initiative sees students visit the American Express Community Stadium where they are given a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the football club and AITC are run.
They are then split into teams and set a series of tasks relating to key areas of business. Each team includes a volunteer from Amex, who helps the students complete the challenges.
Teams are encouraged to come up with a business idea for the stadium and then deliver a pitch to a panel of expert judges, often including key figures from within the football club.
Students from Blatchington Mill School, Patcham High School, Longhill High School and Varndean High School have taken part in the programme already this season, with more schools business enterprise days planned at the stadium before the season’s end.
And the evidence is that the programme is having a real impact on students. Of the students who have already taken part, 92% said they felt AITC’s Schools Business Masterclasses has helped them improve their ability to communicate their ideas effectively to others; 91% said it had given them a broader understanding of the world of business; and 91% said they felt more confident generating ideas and solutions to real-life problems.
Paul Williams, schools manager at AITC, said: “It is great to be able to invite students into a Premier League football stadium and give them the opportunity to learn more about the business side of running a football club. We are also incredibly fortunate to have the support of American Express.
“More than 30 Amex employees have volunteered their time to support one of our Schools Business Masterclasses sessions already this season and it makes a real difference to the young people taking part.”
Stuart Batchelor, Vice President at American Express, is a regular volunteer on AITC’s schools programmes. He said: “The Schools’ Business Masterclasses programme is one of a number of AITC educational initiatives supported by Amex employee volunteers. It’s fantastic to see so many young people enjoying and benefiting from the programme.
“Many of the initiatives we work with AITC on use the power of football to inspire children and young adults to improve their knowledge and skills. Whether it is helping primary school students achieve a better understanding of basic numeracy and literacy, or providing practical experience and commercial insights to older business studies students in preparation for the workplace, we’re delighted to be working with schools and colleges across the region to help children and young people realise their potential.”