In GO! Atheneum De Ring pupils who follows economics have 4 hours economics and 1 hour "Entrepreneurship" each week.
Only the pupils of economics in their last year (6th form, age 17-18) are running a mini-company. Although to gain time we already starts with some preperations a year before.
In the 5th form we start with assignments to seek the strengths of each pupils. Afterwards each pupil has a good insight of their own abilities.
We use this information the form balanced teams. When teams are the oraganise a salesmoment to gain experience. From january our pupils forms different teams for a long period of time (1 to 2 months). Pupils find out the working as a team is very difficult.
In Flanders our schools are very well supported by our national agency: Vlajo. Our national agency provides a vast amount of didactical material, organise a lot of events to participate and it facilitates the communication en collaboration between several stakeholders.
YELL BELGIUM - start_up_kit_Vlajo_Mini-onderneming_2018_DEF_LR.pdf
We will now describe how a typical year in running a mini-company looks like.
April 20XX-1
We inform the pupils about the mini-company program. After this information our pupils have a good overview of the expectations.
We ask our pupils to form teams of at least 5 pupils and max 8 pupils. Each team decides distributes the different roles eg; general manager, financial manager, ...
YELL BELGIUM Vacatures_mini.pdf
Mai 20XX-1
A good idea starts with a brainstom. Before this brainstom we let our pupils watch "the Golden Circle" by Simon Sinek.
So before thinking about a product the first have to think about why they want to launch that specific product.
This phase in the process is a very difficult one.
YELL BELGIUM - idea_thrillers_vs_idea_killers.pdf
We ask our teams to prepare a elevator pitch. Each mini-company has to present the business idea. The teachers ans the other mini-companies give feedback to improve this business idea.
June 20XX-1
There is a short break. Our pupils have their exams.
September 20XX
Every pupil pays € 15,00 to get enrolled in the mini-company program.
Every pupil register at www.vlajo.org. The general manager enrolls the team.
Elevatorpitch with a jury.
Opening a bankaccount, BNP Paribas Fortis.
October 20XX
We participate in "Shop-je-slim"dag. A day with workshops
Creating a businessplan
November 20XX
Collective start-up meeting
1st sales moment
December 20XX
There is a short break. Our pupils have their exams.
January 20XX
Sales and participating in competitions
February 20XX
Sales and participating in competitions
March 20XX
Sales and participating in competitions
April 20XX
Sales and participating in competitions
May 20XX
Vlajo organises "Mini Star Awards". This is an event where each mini-company can win prizes in different categories.
After the liquidation, the financial manager of each company transfers the money to the bank account of Vlajo.
June 20XX
There is a short break. Our pupils have their exams.
September 20XX+1
Vlajo uses the (digital) shareholders list as a base for the payments. Every shareholder receives his share of the value of the mini-company. If there was a profit you receive more than € 10,00 if there was a loss you receive less than € 10,00.