Last school year, secondary-school students from Poland and the Czech Republic created and ran small companies—businesses that had to produce goods, pay taxes, procure supplies, and prove that, under authentic market conditions, they could stay afloat and build a reputation among customers. Three county-run schools took part in the initiative, establishing five small companies from different industries.
The small companies were only simulations of business activity, but everything had to operate as required by the real services market. The ideas for each company came from the students, who had to create business plans offering a chance of success. The project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg V-A Poland–Czech Republic Programme.
In Bolesławiec, the small companies operated in three county-run secondary schools. At Zespół Szkół Mechanicznych, a 15-person group of mechatronics and mechanics students ran “Edu-Tech.” An advertising agency called “Ejcz Team” and the still-operating film studio “Elektro TV” were established at Zespół Szkół Elektronicznych. Students at Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Zawodowych opted for a salad bar and the “Bilans” accounting office. “Our salad bar taught students not only how to select products properly and buy the right quantity of goods so that nothing went to waste, but also promoted healthy eating among students and teachers,” says Małgorzata Plis-Lozer.
“At the accounting office, the young people had to provide accounting and payroll and HR services courteously, in accordance with the law and customers’ expectations,” says Edyta Gorczyca.
Many students—guided by their own ambitions and perhaps also encouraged by the success of the businesses—intend to establish their own companies immediately after finishing school.
The groups were supervised by vocational teachers—Agnieszka Szwed (ZSM), Elżbieta Niedźwiecka and Grzegorz Chudzik (ZSE), as well as Edyta Gorczyca and Małgorzata Plis-Lozer (ZSOiZ). Purchases of equipment, food products, promotional materials and other items were financed by the EU programme.
The small companies’ equipment will remain in the schools, and students will still be able to use it. This was the first part of the project. At its conclusion, the group supervisors received certificates.