A PIONEERING scheme to raise children’s aspirations by linking businesses more closely with schools held a high-profile event this week.

The Developing Future Winners project is the brainchild of Anna Coulson, executive head of St Bede’s Primary Academy in Marske, east Cleveland, and James Munro, managing director of Billingham-based Country Valley Foods, and has been running for about two years.

Their link-up was so successful they decided to try to link other schools and businesses together.

This week hundreds of representatives of schools and businesses from across the region - from nail technicians to law firms - were invited to learn more about how companies can help inspire and prepare children for the world of work at the Wynyard Hall event.

Speakers included former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, jockey Tony McCoy and Wildcats of Kilkenny frontman Mike McGrother. Businesses are already signing up for the scheme following the event.

Since he started working with St Bede’s, Mr Munro has invited children in for tours of his Billingham factory, and also held a “Masterchef” event with them in school.

The work he and his business have done inspired one St Bede’s youngster, seven-year-old Caine Knapper, to want to become a managing director when he is older.

“Without meeting James he wouldn’t have had that same motivation,” said Mrs Coulson.

St Bede’s is part of the Landmark Teaching Schools Alliance, a link-up between 20 schools in the Redcar & Cleveland area, which is also involved.

Mrs Coulson said she thought children needed to learn more, from the earliest age, about being successful and understanding how the world of business works.

She said: “We need to raise aspirations from the very youngest age. This is all about leadership and strategy and trying to unite the business world with the education world to equip children for their futures.

“Also as more schools become academies they need to be thinking about procuring services, and it can help to link up with some of the businesses that supply them.”

Mr Munro, who supplies 19 of the 20 schools in the Landmark Teaching Alliance, said: “Some businesses might be reluctant because of the time it takes. Initially it does take time and effort – not much – but hopefully, in five or ten years, our business will take on someone on that we have helped inspire.”