Bright Stars is an award-winning competition aimed at primary school children across Cumbria. Each school receives £50 in seed funding with a simple instruction to set up their own mini social enterprise over the course of 8 weeks and, through creativity, grow that investment, making a difference to their world and the lives of people around them. CforLP links a local business to its local school to offer guidance and encouragement throughout the trading period. The programmes aims are to raise aspirations, ignite interest in the world of work, and nurture creativity in primary pupils.
Bright Stars gives children at primary age a programme where they can see the opportunities around them
To develop ongoing relationships between primary schools across Cumbria and their local business community
To introduce leadership and social entrepreneurship from a young age in a fun and accessible way
To raise the aspirations, confidence and self-belief of young people across primary schools in Cumbria as they showcase hidden talents
To get young people excited about the world of work and gain an understanding of business and enterprise
To encourage and nurture creative thinking
To develop skills in teamwork and leadership from an early age
To create careers awareness from a young age and link learning to local careers
To empower children to influence change in their local communities
Bright Stars Spring Summer 2023
Young entrepreneurs developed innovative social enterprises that made both a profit and a difference during The Bright Stars spring summer 2023 competition.
Learn more about the winners fabulous Social Enterprises here
School Videos
Who has been involved?
A wide range of companies have been involved with Bright Stars over the years. Take a look at who was involved in Bright Stars 2023 below.
Quotes
Read below to find out the experiences of the companies and schools that have taken part in Bright Stars.
Bright stars has really lived up to its name. We have developed a school full of Bright Stars who have gained so much knowledge about the world of work and how to run a company. The competition has given our children so many opportunities, beyond what we anticipated. Thank you…read more
I have been involved with Bright Stars since its inception – first as a head teacher and then as chair of the judging panel for the last two years. I have seen the scheme grow and also been able to appreciate the tremendous value it offers to the children involved,…read more
The aim of Bright Stars is to open young children’s eyes to the excitement of entrepreneurship and build confidence by working as a team to run a mini business. Raising the aspiration and confidence of Cumbria’s young people is a vital part of the CfLP’s work. We work with leaders…read more
It is always so rewarding to be a part of the Bright Stars competition. Not only does it strengthen relationships between schools and businesses, it is also such a joy to observe the journey that the children set foot on and all of the skills they acquire along the way….read more
Engaging with the Bright Stars Competition has been a memorable event for school. The children’s enthusiasm working with a business partner meant that they learnt transferable skills, became closer to our local community and made a real difference to some of the members of our community….read more
Bright Stars generates a tremendous feelgood factor for our staff and it reflects the pride which our business has in the local community. There is also a longer-term benefit – creating awareness among the children of career opportunities which exist within local companies….read more
“it’s not like learning, it’s just brilliant!” When a child says that, and you know how much they have really learned, that is truly inspirational learning design.
AECOM have a slogan. Imagine it. Delivered. In week one of competition one of the Ennerdale Bright Stars came up with their equivalent – Small School. Big Minds! This epitomises the passion that the school has thrown at the challenges….read more
A wonderful opportunity for our Year 1 children to get an insight into how the business world works.
The children absolutely loved taking part in this project. They worked brilliantly and had so much fun learning loads about business. The raised £160.00 and did the majority of the work independently. All of the proceeds will be going towards making a community wildlife area on our school field. Carl…read more
The children have absolutely loved it and it’s rare that lessons and skills like the ones they have learnt over the past 8 weeks come up in our normal class work. It’s been great to see the children embrace Bright Stars and run with the smoothie idea. They have all…read more
We have enjoyed working together, making money, having fun and being creative.
Bright Stars has had a huge impact on our school. It has brought our local community closer to the school, through the coffee morning. It has allowed parents and carers to share in the work the children have been up to. Through working with Forth Engineering it has allowed us…read more
Bright Stars has had a huge impact on our school. It has brought our local community closer to the school, through the coffee morning. It has allowed parents and carers to share in the work the children have been up to. Through working with Forth Engineering it has allowed us…read more
]
Bright stars has really lived up to its name. We have developed a school full of Bright Stars who have gained so much knowledge about the world of work and how to run a company. The competition has given our children so many opportunities, beyond what we anticipated. Thank you CfLP.
]
I have been involved with Bright Stars since its inception – first as a head teacher and then as
chair of the judging panel for the last two years. I have seen the scheme grow and also been able
to appreciate the tremendous value it offers to the children involved, to teachers and to the
companies supporting them.
Bright Stars enables the children to use a range of skills they learn in the classroom in a real
world scenario, working alongside adults from local businesses to broaden their experience and
knowledge.
A key element in Bright Stars is collaboration and the children are able to take on different roles
including leadership roles, which provide an excellent foundation for their future development,
building confidence in their own abilities, and their aspirations for the future.
Companies taking part are having a hugely positive impact on these children, and the company
representatives rightly take a great deal of pride in their involvement.
]
The aim of Bright Stars is to open young children’s eyes to the excitement of entrepreneurship and build confidence by working as a
team to run a mini business. Raising the aspiration and confidence of Cumbria’s young
people is a vital part of the CfLP’s work. We work with leaders and managers across the
county to further develop their leadership skills. But like many other businesses we also
believe that supporting the talents of all the county’s young people is vital for the future
economy of Cumbria.
]
It is always so rewarding to be a part of the Bright Stars competition. Not only does it strengthen relationships between schools and businesses, it is also such a joy to observe the journey that the children set foot on and all of the skills they acquire along the way.
]
Engaging with the Bright Stars Competition has been a memorable event for school. The children’s enthusiasm working with a business partner meant that they learnt transferable skills, became closer to our local community and made a real difference to some of the members of our community.
]
Bright Stars generates a tremendous feelgood factor for our staff and it reflects the pride which our business has in the local community. There is also a longer-term benefit – creating awareness among the children of career opportunities which exist within local companies.
]
“it’s not like learning, it’s just brilliant!” When a child says that, and you know how much they have really learned, that is truly inspirational learning design.
]
AECOM have a slogan. Imagine it. Delivered. In week one of competition one of the Ennerdale Bright Stars came up with their equivalent – Small School. Big Minds! This epitomises the passion that the school has thrown at the challenges.
]
A wonderful opportunity for our Year 1 children to get an insight into how the business world works.
]
The children absolutely loved taking part in this project. They worked brilliantly and had so much fun learning loads about business. The raised £160.00 and did the majority of the work independently. All of the proceeds will be going towards making a community wildlife area on our school field. Carl and Katie from CCL were brilliant, the children really looked forward to their visits. Thank you for the opportunity to take part in this great initiative.
]
The children have absolutely loved it and it’s rare that lessons and skills like the ones they have learnt over the past 8 weeks come up in our normal class work. It’s been great to see the children embrace Bright Stars and run with the smoothie idea. They have all gained confidence during the competition and should be really proud.
]
We have enjoyed working together, making money, having fun and being creative.
]
Bright Stars has had a huge impact on our school. It has brought our local community closer to the school, through the coffee morning. It has allowed parents and carers to share in the work the children have been up to. Through working with Forth Engineering it has allowed us to engage the children in the world of business which they would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise. The children have developed new skills and found things they didn’t know they could do, which has given them so much confidence. The whole project has brought the children in the class closer together. They have developed their team work and collaboration skills really well. The children are listening better to each other and taking on board other children’s ideas. They have developed their oracy and what they want to say to their peers and adults.
]
Bright Stars has had a huge impact on our school. It has brought our local community closer to the school, through the coffee morning. It has allowed parents and carers to share in the work the children have been up to. Through working with Forth Engineering it has allowed us to engage the children in the world of business which they would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise. The children have developed new skills and found things they didn’t know they could do, which has given them so much confidence. The whole project has brought the children in the class closer together. They have developed their team work and collaboration skills really well. The children are listening better to each other and taking on board other children’s ideas. They have developed their oracy and what they want to say to their peers and adults.
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