Eastern Daily Press. Business Awards 2009 - 20 Years Strong. Sponsored by Harley Davidson.

Best Industry/Education Link Award

Previous Winners:
Holkham Estate and Alderman Peel High School
Lotus Engineering and Wymondham College

This award recognises achievement in preparing students for their working lives by giving them experience of enterprise and entrepreneurship; in effect, it celebrates outstanding examples of partnership working between business and education.

Entrants for this award will be partnerships made up of a school/college and a business who are proud of their achievements together. Their project may be large or small, but it will have brought about a significant change to the way the students and employer team view each other's world. The judges will be looking for enthusiasm, innovation, enterprising behaviour and sustainability. Every entry will be individually assessed and those on the shortlist will be visited by the judges.

2009 Winner

Orchard Toys and Kinsale Junior School
Carolyn Baxter, Headteacher, Kinsale Junior School:- This is fantastic recognition for the children of Kinsale Junior and Orchard Toys for their commitment to their own and other children's learning. The aspiration to take this game celebrating Norfolk's Fine Food to beyond the original remit and to experience its production is in some ways above words. To give to over 300 schools, some 50,000 children, an opportunity to play the game is real impact. The children’s high aspirations were mirrored by the belief in them from Orchard Toys. It should encourage others to think big and follow their goals.
Simon Newbery, managing director, Orchard Toy
Working with the pupils from Kinsale over the last couple of years has been an edifying experience, reminding me that learning is very much a two-way process.
As a producer of children's educational games puzzles we rely heavily on the goodwill of schools to test our prototypes on their children. The links that have been forged with Kinsale Junior can only improve that process and will help us to go on to involve children at an earlier stage of production so that they can have an input into future products as they evolve. It was extremely fulfilling to be able to help the children to achieve their goal, and to see how they dealt with the obstacles that presented themselves along the way. I am very pleased to be in the position to take their dream one stage further by putting their product into full production for national distribution. Moreover, we are able to support the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) through these sales to further reinforce our commitment to children within the local community.

2009 Finalists

Morgan Ashurst and Sewell Park College
A wonderfully warm link that’s built to last has developed between Sewell Park College in Norwich and UK construction company Morgan Ashurst. It began when the firm was working on a major building project at the college and held a series of construction careers workshops for students, including project management, plastering, bricklaying and plumbing. Since then, the company has helped to coach youngsters in areas such as CV-writing and interview techniques - raising aspirations, boosting confidence and developing a refreshing bond of friendship in the process. The college and Morgan Ashurst are now working closely on potential joint projects across the curriculum.

Orchard Toys and Kinsale Junior School
A colourful new board game celebrating Norfolk's food industry is the result of a remarkably successful partnership between a group of pupils from the before-school club at Kinsale Junior School, Hellesdon, and Wymondham-based Orchard Toys. Having researched and come up with their design for a game called Norfolk's Fine Food, youngsters were delighted when the leading toy manufacturer generously agreed to help develop their idea and turn it into a real product. Five hundred of the board games have now been made, of which 300 are being sent to schools with primary classes across Norfolk - benefiting some 50,000 children and promoting local food.

Real Projects and Norwich University College of the Arts
A growing and exciting partnership between Norwich University College of the Arts and Real Projects, a Norwich-based firm which develops e-learning materials, is really getting results. Talented students from the Games Art & Design course are enjoying placements at Real Projects' offices in Mountergate, learning more about the world of work, interacting with an employer and bringing bright ideas and new talent to the company's development of online learning games. NUCA is thrilled about developing another important link with a successful local company and a highly enthusiastic Real Projects says the student placements have "real commercial value that’s transforming our business".

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The Exchange is the Education Business Partnership for Norfolk. We inspire and develop partnerships that enable schools/colleges and businesses to help each other. Students gain a valuable insight into the world of work, and businesses benefit from staff development, problem solving and often much more The Exchange gives employers the opportunity to work alongside teachers, in shaping our future workforce.