The Bradford Business Game
The Bradford Business Game is a simulation activity with the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial, mathematical and problem solving skills by understanding how a manufacturing company works.
Students learn about working roles and conditions, rights and responsibilities in the workplace as they grapple with economic, strategic and time management in this exciting day-long workshop.
They are divided into groups and each one goes through the process of setting up a company and making sure it works. They produce a prototype booklet, train Accountants to set up a bank account, brief Marketing Managers to potentially increase revenue and liaise with Managing Directors to negotiate orders for the company. Students also have to overcome industrial problems.
The Marketing Managers then prepare presentations about their company in the afternoon, gaining presentation and communication skills. Throughout the activity, students engage with ideas, challenges and applications from the business world, developing key skills and learning about different employment sectors.
Activity details
Duration: full day
Cost: TBA
Maximum student numbers in a session: 100
Planning and running the session
Location, furniture and equipment requirements: A hall or classroom with tables and chairs to suit required number of students and a combat arena area (around six tables placed together in a rectangle for the challenges to take place).
The teacher will need to organise students into teams, with teaching staff acting as buyers or bankers. Senior Management should be involved during the day. Some materials (white and coloured paper) will be required and refreshments for the business facilitator and Science and Engineering Ambassadors.
The Business Facilitator (a STEM Sussex representative) will ensure students have read and understood the brief, keep students on track, encourage time management, stimulate their thinking and give assistance when required. They will also observe how teams work and feed this information back to them in readiness for the afternoon presentations.
The Buyers (teachers) will manage the contracts with the companies and ensure these are kept secure. They will be strict on timing, charge penalties for late delivery and influence the market by increasing the price or demanding higher quality. One buyer could be a ‘tough negotiator', another a ‘soft touch'.
The Banker (teacher) will service 3/4 companies and keep their financial records. At the end of trading they will close the accounts and present details of total profits of the individual companies to the Game Manager.
School staff support expectation: The teacher and auxiliary staff are expected to support the students in their activities and learning. Teachers are also responsible for maintaining discipline during the activity.
Risk evaluation: will be supplied on booking
To book
Please download and complete the booking form and return to STEM Sussex via email or fax.
For more information contact STEM Sussex
