Chamber Service: Education

School Name: The Chase / Postcode Anywhere

Title: The Chase & Postcode Anywhere - Rewarding the Brightest 'Sparks' 

Date: July 2011

Each year Young Enterprise businesses who have demonstrated the ‘Best Use of IT' are  awarded prizes by technology company, Postcode Anywhere. Young Enterprise company 'Sparks' from The Chase, were awarded the Postcode Anywhere trophy at two phases of the competition, presented with the ‘Best Use of IT’ awards at both the South Worcestershire and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire presentation finals.

'Sparks' were included in the top eight Young Enterprise companies in Herefordshire and Worcestershire out of a total 45 participating in a very competitive year. The students created a web-based service designed to help businesses train employees specifically to use Blackberry smartphones.

John Palmer, who is Curriculum Leader for ICT at The Chase, was really proud of his students’ achievements and understanding of some technically challenging concepts. He said: “We have been involved in Young Enterprise for many years, and the programme has changed significantly in that time in response to the changing commercial landscape.  Gone are the days of Young Enterprise companies making clocks, candles and jewellery: students now develop complex 'high tech' products and can develop a range of cutting edge technical skills alongside those generic skills vital for success in the boardroom." 

Postcode Anywhere Managing Director, Guy Mucklow was pleased with the innovation demonstrated by 'Sparks', adding: "The UK needs to encourage both enterprise and IT education, because the creation of small to medium technology companies could well provide the key to the UK ‘s economic recovery and future prosperity.”