The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York

Supporting Enterprise Education

The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York

 

 

The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York is a Guild founded in medieval times, having celebrated its 650th anniversary in 2007. It is probably most famous to York citizens and visitors alike through its magnificent Medieval hall in Fossgate. Unlike other Guilds which are associated with specific crafts or trades, it is the pursuit and promotion  of enterprise and what is now known as 'entrepreneurship', which has always characterised a Merchant Adventurer. 

 

Why are the Merchant Adventurers sponsoring the Griffins' Nest?

The Company has a long and prestigious history and a tradition of offering competitive awards to stimulate entrepreneurial initiatives. Supporting the Enterprise Inspiration section at Venturefest, and particularly the Griffins' Nest Competition, represents an effective way for the Company to help a significant number of young people to experience enterprise activities, and by doing so helping to inspire a future generation of Merchant Adventurers - 'the entrepreneurs of the future.' 

The Awards

The Merchant Adventurers' Company has been delighted to work with NYBEP through Venturefest 2009 and now Venturefest 2010 in the organisation of the Griffins' Nest Awards. Competing teams of Key Stage 4 students from schools in the region are tasked with coming up with a product or service that will benefit their local community, and the project requires a successful team to consider many facets of starting a business, including the size of the marketing opportunity, product design and finance.

The winning school receives a prize of £1000 to direct to enterprise education, with two runners-up receiving £500 each.

Hands on help from business leaders who also happen to be Merchant Adventurers is available to the teams and the final is judged by three local business leaders acting as the 'Griffins'. The 2009 winning team at Archbishop Holgate's triumphed with their 'Fit2Play' project, which was developed to operate a scheme which teaches primary school children how to live a healthy lifestyle.

 

Recently the Governor, Dr Paul Shepherd, visited the school to meet the staff and students who were at the early stages of preparing for the 2010 final. Photographs show the Governor in discussion with the Archbishop Holgate's team. 

 

For this and other Venturefest news please click here.