UK Virtual Enterprise Network

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UK Virtual Enterprise Network

• Simon Firth, Swanlea School

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The idea

• To allow students to develop more ambitious
  Business ideas than YE or other mini-enterprise
  projects.
• To reflect how a business really works.

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Turning the idea into reality

• We have paired up with one of the Business teams
  at Merrill Lynch.
• Our virtual enterprise will mirror their trading
  unit including the back office function.

• The students will receive training at Merrill's
  and we are due to start trading in September.

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How does it work?

• A virtual enterprise network already exists and
  contains thousands of practice firms from across
  Europe. The idea is that
• Virtual Businesses Trade with each other in
  their own enclosed economy according to strict
  commercial principles.

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Key Functions European Telecommunications Network
for Virtual Businesses
World wide Network of Practices Firms
Telephoneanalogue
Telephonedigital
Disc
Telephonedigital
Mail
Telephoneanalogue
EGNI UK Central Office
WW Central Offices
ISDN
ISDN
Clearing Centre
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Key Reasons for Joining the UK network of Virtual
Business
To enable development of practical work skills
To Learn Business Systems Procedures
TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR
ASSESSMENT
TO EXPERIENCE A VARIETY OF WORK ROLES
TO GET WELL TRAINED EMPLOYEES
EXPERIENCE WORK ETHIC AND COMPANY COPORATE INDENTI
TY
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Why Join the Network of Practice Companies and
Virtual Firms?

• It gives a wide breadth of learning and teaching
  strategies.
• It enables a variety of assessment opportunities
  to be developed.
• It gives flexibility to the delivery of courses
  with complementary but different qualification
  aims.
• It enables inclusivity and a holistic approach to
  education.
• It can be used to promote languages and bilingual
  curriculum.

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KEY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

• Employees learn to work as a team, and develop
  inter-personnel skills in working with others.
• They improve their learning experience by
  performing the various Business Tasks.
• They are involved in Problem Solving with their
  colleagues as well as with their customers and
  suppliers.

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Key Questions

• Post or pre 16
• Do students become employees?
• Does the curriculum become staff development?
• Whats in it for the students?
• Can VE be used as credit in any qualifications?