IBM Finance Conference

IBM kindly hosted the 10th ‘Focusing on Finance in Business: A Conference for Sixth Form Students’ at their prestigious Bedfont Lakes Headquarters over two days on 2nd & 5th December 2011. Six prestigious companies including Allianz, Air Products, BAA, IBM, PWC and The Army ran 4 hour long workshops providing real life case studies for the students to get their teeth into. Allianz presented ‘The Risk Factor’, BAA covered Heathrow Welcomes 2012, IBM focused on Issues in Finance whilst Air Products challenged the students to look at ‘Better Decision Making’. All who attended felt this was the best event ever.

This event is run by SATRO in collaboration with colleagues in Hounslow, Hillingdon & Ealing  EBP’s and students from a variety of schools including three Surrey schools were treated as delegates for the day.

Comments from Surrey students include:

“I got to speak to older people who have already gone down my likely career path”

“Today I enjoyed how the team leader in each group was helpful and made me realise more in life for me”

“I learnt new things and ideas and it has widened my knowledge on business finance”

With teachers who attended the days saying:

“BAA brought business alive by getting students to consider the impact of the Olympics on LHR”

“Very interesting interactive activities, I managed to get some ideas for myself”

Invest in your Sucess Launch

Satro is delighted to announce the official launch on the Invest in Your Success project, which is being funded by Woking Borough Council.

The Programme will involve 671 Year 9 students in the following schools: St John the Baptist, Bishop David Brown, Fullbrook, Wishmore Cross, The Winston Churchill and Woking High. Students will be involved in a programme designed to:

• raise students’ aspirations and awareness of post-16 progression options
• increase students’ understanding of employment opportunities in the Woking area
• increase awareness and understanding by students of their future career goals
• increase awareness by employers in the Woking area of the benefits of working with schools

It was officially launched by Woking Borough Council on 30^th November.

The Programme will involve inspirational speakers from local businesses talking to students about their careers; students taking part in one-day enterprise challenges designed to test their entrepreneurial skills; finally in February 2012, all students will take place in a huge careers event to be held at Woking Leisure Centre and involving employers, colleges and apprenticeship providers from a wide range of sectors.

We look forward to being involved in this innovative new project, and we hope we can make a real difference to the aspirations and achievements of students in the Woking area.

Big Community Launch

We are delighted to announce that 25th November  saw the launch of a new project in which Satro is partnering with Eagle Radio – its called The Big Community.

What is the Big Community ?

In essence it will be a “dating service” tailored to matching people and resources between the Third and Business sectors.

The pilot is jointly funded by  Eagle Radio, Guildford Borough Council, Satro and Surrey Community Action. 

The pilot scheme will focus on Guildford and its immediate communities.  The longer term plan will be for other towns across Surrey to invest and provide this service and opportunity to their communities. 

Mission Statement for Big Community

To facilitate the communication between the 3^rd Sector, the business sector and the general public by creating a user generated, interactive platform to electronically match people, requirements and organisations

Key Objectives of the Big Community

To create and provide a platform that is accessible to all people in Surrey, free of charge

To increase real activity in the “key match” areas

To provide real cash savings for the 3^rd sector in the purchase of goods/services

To increase the employability, skillset, experience and knowledge of the workforce of Surrey by increasing volunteering opportunities

To educate the 3^rd sector with better ways to communicate to those outside their sector

To highlight and share innovative ways businesses can give to the 3^rd sector

What are the 4 key functions of the Big Community ?

Organisations seeking volunteers

Volunteers seeking organisations

Organisations seeking to purchase goods/services

Businesses offering goods/services to the 3^rd sector

Primary Maths Workshops

SATRO has once again been fortunate to receive funding from Cllr. Carol Coleman to support the 4 primary schools in her Ward which has enabled SATRO to deliver four Fun Maths workshops to KS2 pupils.

The first Fun Maths was held at St Michaels in Ashford on the 4th October 2011 with112 pupils. A teacher at St Michael’s commented “The workshop was well organised, well delivered and the staff/volunteers were very helpful and engaging.”  A pupil said “We learned that maths can be very exciting and that when there is a very hard question you have to be patient and don’t give up.”

The next Fun Maths session was held at Ashford C of E Primary School on the 18th October 2011 with 118 pupils. A teacher commented “The activities engaged the children and supported their understanding of problem solving and made them think about the questions.”

Echelford Primary School was on the 10th November 2011 with 93 pupils. A teacher from the school commented “Good use of visual resources as it allows all abilities to access the task”.

Clarendon Primary school had 45 pupils on 21st November 2011. Some of the students said “I learnt that Maths is not always boring it can be fun too and if you put your mind to it then you can do anything”.

Lots of positive comments from Teachers and pupils at all the four schools! SATRO are very grateful to Cllr Coleman -  without her SATRO and the schools would not have these Fun Maths Workshops.

First mentor visits - The NDS Red Button Challenge

This is a schools challenge being run with NDS Ltd, an international software technologies company whose global headquarters are in Staines. (Their technology leaps into action when you press the red button on your TV remote – hence the name of the challenge.) NDS staff are working directly with nine school teams over the next four months guiding them in developing their ideas for a TV-related ‘app’. The first six mentor visits, involving ten staff, took place during the past two weeks.

Fun Maths Workshop at Leatherhead Trinity Primary School

247 pupils from years 3,4,5 and 6 took part in a Fun Maths Workshop on the 17th November 2011 at Leatherhead Trinity Primary school. Fun Maths comprises a set of over 40 activities designed to challenge and excite pupils about maths in a relaxed environment.

Here’s a comment from the Assistant Head of Leatherhead Trinity about the day “Excellent resources and helpful staff (volunteers) thank you.”

Pupils that took part in the day also commented:

“I learned that working as a team helps keep your spirit high instead of giving up on yourself.”

“That maths and problem solving can be fun.”

Satro Business Game at Chandlers Field Primary School

50 year six children (ten & eleven year olds) at Chandler’s Field Primary School had a hugely exciting day running a company, thanks to funding from local company, P&G (Procter & Gamble).  The students took part in a ‘SATRO Junior Business Game - a business simulation game, organised by Surrey SATRO on Thursday 24th November 2011.

A teacher from Chandlers Field Primary School said “Pupils really engaged with activity and really enjoyed it. They couldn’t wait to get back in from break to carry on! Pupils really enjoyed taking on adult roles and participating in jobs like banking and buying supplies. Practical aspects gave all the children a chance to take part. It was great to see children working together and delivering independence in completing their chosen roles.”

Here are some comments from students who took part in the day:

“I enjoyed being able to see life in business and being able to present what we have learnt.”

“I learnt that working in business is very hard work! I also learnt that you have to be very careful whether you save or spend money.”

SATRO Business Game at Long Ditton CofE School

35 year six children (ten & eleven year olds) at Long Ditton St Mary’s C of E Junior School had a hugely exciting day running a company, thanks to funding from local company, P&G (Procter & Gamble).  The students took part in a ‘SATRO Junior Business Game - a business simulation game, organised by SATRO on Tuesday 22nd November 2011. Employees from P&G volunteered their services, offering advice and encouragement to the young entrepreneurs.

Here are some comments from students that took part on the day:

“I enjoyed making the presentation the most and being designer because when I’m older I want to be a designer. Now I’m definitely sure.”

“I enjoyed going to the bank because I learnt what the difference between a current and a deposit account was.”

“I learnt that taking everyone’s ideas in and meshing them all together made a great business.”