The Business BTEC pupils had a packed schedule in the Autumn term. Music teacher and businessman Patrick Moore came in to the College to talk to Sixth Form BTEC students on the ever-changing topic of how to apply social media to the world of business. A burgeoning market, the emergence of social media as a tool for sales and marketing in the workplace has brought with it new and exciting roles in business environments. However, fantastic as it is in the right hands, it can also be a minefield, and knowing how to adapt and use the different social networks available to businesses is a skill most definitely worth having in this digital age.
As a leader in creating solutions for various businesses, Patrick works as an Executive at Solfyre Limited; a digital company working with businesses to reclaim and manage their online identities. He offered a wealth of experience for the BTEC pupils. He also had a number of practical suggestions for students to follow; demonstrating how to utilise different forms of social media to the best effect is just one example of the breadth of detail into which Patrick went. He even developed a tweet with pupils for the Business Studies Department, and may well have inspired them to develop their own entrepreneurial idea; something which is actively encouraged within the Business Studies Department.
As well as visiting speakers, Business BTEC pupils have had the opportunity to go on the Department’s annual trip to the Clothes Show Live in Birmingham. Nearly 80 pupils attended the annual show, which takes place in Birmingham’s NEC. The Clothes Show is an exhibition of new fashion trends, allowing household names to exhibit fashion forward pieces, alongside fresh-faced graduate designers. The Show also draws in makeup artists and retail houses with graduate placements and career opportunities; a wealth of different business approaches in one of the largest industries gathered together under one roof. This enables Shiplake pupils to collate information from leading fashion companies for the purposes of marketing and product promotion, helping towards the broader aim of completing the units taken in both Years 12 and 13, and providing invaluable case studies to aid pupil understanding of concepts of business. Pupils enjoyed a cat-walk show and perusing stalls available at the venue, all of which displayed the latest fashion trends to cater for all budgets and styles.
