Free-range eggs to be sold in community thanks to entrepreneurial flair of local pupils

Local primary school children have reached the grand final of a competition which aims to find and encourage the most promising young business talent in Wales.

Pupils from Ysgol Acrefair are one of the top 12 teams that have made it into the Enterprise Troopers final which will be live streamed to a panel of judges at Cardiff Metropolitan University this month

‘Enterprise Troopers’ is an annual competition run by Big Ideas Wales, the Welsh Government’s Youth Entrepreneurship Service, and showcases the enterprising capabilities of 5-11 year olds from primary schools across the country.

Inspired by the true life of Kwabena Darko, a young boy from Ghana that turned a small loan into a thriving farm in the story One Hen, Ysgol Acrefair’s team set out to leave a lasting legacy for following year groups by setting up their business of the same name.

In an effort to raise money to purchase chick-eggs, the One Hen team asked for cake donations and held a crowdfunding event before reinvesting their money into two more businesses to increase their profits, including a book-themed tuck shop selling scrambled snakes and Gruffalo cakes during book week.

The team made enough money to purchase their chick-eggs which hatched safely in their classroom.

Over the coming months learners cared for their new chicks before rehoming them with a local farm who has agreed to deliver any free-range eggs the chicks produce back to the school who will then sell the free-range eggs to the community.

Ysgol Acrefair learners raised enough money to also set up a year six bank account to leave behind for next year’s learners to start a business of their own.

It was the learners’ compassion, as well as confident entrepreneurial skills, that impressed judges at this year’s Enterprise Troopers competition.

Speaking about the innovative competition introducing young learners to entrepreneurship, Ceri Halley, a teacher at Ysgol Acrefair said: “Our year six learners really wanted to build a business that would leave a legacy. They have not only left that lasting legacy through One Hen and a year six bank account but have proven themselves to be capable entrepreneurs and compassionate and confident learners who will surely thrive in secondary school.

“While all our chicks were successfully rehomed with a nearby farm, the legacy of One Hen will live on in Ysgol Acrefair and next year’s year six learners will look up to our current year six learners as a source of inspiration.

“We look forward to taking part in the Enterprise Troopers initiative again as it is such a thrilling and exciting way to introduce learners to valuable skills like costs, budgeting, idea development and team work.”

Associate sponsor NatWest Cymru were a part of the panel of judges and got to see first-hand the business ideas presented by Welsh primary school children. Cheryl Gourlay, National Enterprise Manager from NatWest Cymru said: “There are so many exciting business ideas launched by the learners this year, making it a very difficult competition to judge.

“Seeing the children present their innovative ideas with confidence and clarity is testament to their hard work, and each team should be very proud of what they have accomplished.

“As a business, we are very proud to support young learners to explore their entrepreneurial skills year upon year through the Enterprise Troopers competition and we look forward to following their academic and entrepreneurial journeys in the future.”