Business in the Classroom is a CBI West Midlands and Oxfordshire initiative, aimed at promoting partnerships between businesses and schools in order to inspire young people into business, increase their knowledge of the workplace, and improve their employability. A team of more than 20 Deloitte staff from the Midlands offices led by Mark Simpson, CF Assistant Director, and sponsored by Chris Loughran, Deloitte Midlands Practice Senior Partner, took up the challenge to make a difference to the lives of students from three schools in Birmingham, extending to a portfolio of six schools in 2014. They have focused on helping students to develop real-world business skills such as self-management and team-working, business and customer awareness, and problem solving, as well as showing how curriculum areas such as literacy, numeracy and IT connect with the world of business.

Student testimonials:

“At the start of the project, in terms of knowledge about business, I was clueless. The experience gained with Deloitte has helped me to grow in confidence. I was also able to improve my self-management, customer awareness, and group working. I want Deloitte to continue helping school pupils to build their knowledge in business.”

“I’ve learnt a lot of key information which I never had a clue on. I’ve now boosted my confidence and now have realised that finance is not as boring as I thought it would be.”  

“I have learned many new skills and abilities, and hopefully will use these in my daily life.”

The team was invited to showcase the project and programme of workshops at a recent CBI event to help promote the initiative and has subsequently been approached by other organisations seeking guidance and looking to participate in some capacity.