Osborne Support ‘Dragons Den’ Engagement Day

Osborne supported an engagement day at Haybrook College, which provides a range of educational programmes catering for students of secondary age who are not able to access education through mainstream schools.

Last December, Osborne Communities began a partnership with the Council for planned works and repairs to over 7,000 homes, central to which is a commitment to providing education, employment and skills opportunities for local people.

Along with other employers, Osborne were involved in a ‘Dragon Den’ style activity, organised by local charity Adviza, with pupils split into groups and tasked to come up with a business idea.

These ranged from clothing to mobile phone apps and music festivals, with the young people working together to agree how they would market their product, identify the appropriate target market and devise a press release and advert.

The teams then presented their product and idea to the ‘Dragons’, with the winners presented with a certificate for their efforts.
Jo Fletcher, Head of Engagement at Osborne Communities, said: “It was great to see the enthusiasm of the young people who worked together to create their new products and present this back, with all the groups completely engaged throughout the activity.”

Joseph West, School and Employer Partnership Coordinator at Adviza, said: “Just wanted to say a massive thank you to Osborne, your support has been instrumental to these young people, many of whom have been through so much in their lives. “Having business professionals, like yourself, helps them to understand their worth and the many opportunities in the world of work.”

Adviza is a charity providing support to young people and adults across the Thames Valley as they make choices about education, training or work  www.adviza.org.uk