Bradford's Starter for Ten
Mosaic mentors teamed up with all 1,093 students from Belle Vue Girls School in Bradford to create their own enterpreneurial challenge - the tenner challenge.
To help bring out the budding entrepreneurs in all of the students and provide inspiration, Mosaic mentors gave speeches to each year about their own story of how they got to where they are today, and the principles of business - marketing, selling, communication and much more.
Each of the 54 teams were given ten pounds to "go out there, be enterprising, and make a profit" over a two week period, with the aim of generating the highest return.
The principle was simple - whoever makes the most wins! It was a huge success with everyone getting enthusiastically involved, with a healthy dose of competitiveness for good measure.
"The students have learned so much about the realities of running an enterprise - from the ideas that didn't work, as well as from those that did. Of course, this is not just about making money, though the amount raised for charity in just two weeks has exceeded all our expectations. Our business people have been a real inspiration. We will definitely build on what we have learnt from this experience and will run the Challenge again in the future." Lisa Russell-Steele, Head of Business at Belle Vue Girls School
The original £540 had become an amazing £3,893.33 - more than 7 times the original amount! All proceeds are to be donated to charity.
Mr Sajad Hussain's team were the winners of the challenge with a profit of £735.05, taking the lead in all categories, and their range of mini-enterprises included a successful bangles business. Other enterprises included selling Christmas and Eid cards, calendars, designing, a message board service, a fashion show, hand drawn portraits, and fantastic boxing workshop run by the school's own national champion, Ambreen Sadiq.
"May I begin by thanking Mosaic and in particular Noreen Khan. Her dedication and commitment to this wonderful cause is truly admirable. The task provided was to help motivate a remarkable group of school kids. It was a wonderful and truly rewarding experience. Thank you and well done Mosaic." Sajad Hussain, Partner Seafresh Wholesale Distributors
Having been quoted as the ‘best ever launch of any challenge the school has done' by the school's own staff, it was also said that it would not have been possible, let alone successful, without the help of the Mosaic mentors.
"Young people are our future. There's no two ways about it. Being a mentor for MOSAIC has given me yet another opportunity to work with a lively and creative group of young people.
"Mentoring is a great way of contributing to a young person's well being and helping them to negotiate their own way through challenges they may be facing in their life.
"It's also a lot more than that. It's an exciting relationship in which you can help them to recognise just how amazing they really are and help them to create and maximise on the many opportunities that lie ahead of them.
"It's so important for young people to develop the necessary skills to compete effectively in today's global market place and being part of this process is hugely rewarding." Naila Hussain, Training and Development Consultant
The mentors that kindly gave their time were Mr Sajad Hussain, Mrs Sarah Khan Bashir, Mr Amjad Bashir and Mrs Naila Hussain.
So a big thank you to those who gave their time to make this possible, and congratulations to all that took part and in particular the winners.
"I was asked to inspire and motivate a group of enterprising young women. The manner in which they rose to the challenge and their success that followed actually humbled and inspired me! The power of experience and encouragement is not to be underestimated and I am thankful to Mosaic for allowing me the privilege and the opportunity of getting involved in this initiative." Sarah Khan-Bashir
"One of the most memorable occasions for me was winning the "verse speaking contest at Thornton Grammar School in 1969.
Mosaic has rekindled that memory and I hope for those beautiful, young and full of enthusiasm girls from Belle Vue this competition will form an enduring memory in their Mosaic of life." AmjadBashir, Cafe Zouk
For more information
If you would like to find out how you can get involved in Mosaic mentoring in Yorkshire, or for information about Mosaic's other programmes in Yorkshire, please contact Noreen Khan - Noreen.khan@bitc.org.uk / 07894 832 180.