Taking students out of the classroom and into the world of high-flying business provides a host of educational opportunities, as they see the subjects from the curriculum brought to life. Our two-night London Business Studies trip is the ideal length to expose young learners to multiple business-related establishments and inspire a deeper appreciation and understanding of subjects like marketing, branding and finance.

The carefully considered itinerary of the trip has been designed to provide students with an overview of the global business environment, covering key aspects of the A level curriculum. Pupils will visit some of the City’s key financial institutions, as well as sporting venues, theme parks and numerous working businesses in order to gain a thorough understanding of the historical, cultural and economic development of the UK business market.

As the second oldest central bank in the world, there’s no more fitting place to learn about global finance and commerce than the iconic Bank of England – upon whose model most central banks are based. While the bank itself is not open to the public, the excellent onsite museum features changing exhibitions exploring aspects related to the bank’s development, and permanent displays covering its history and the vital role it plays in today’s economy.

Students will also attend numerous free presentations, which range from 15 minutes to an hour in length and include:

• An Introduction to the Museum – outlining the history, architecture and current work of the bank.
• Pounds and Pence – covering the history and purpose of money.
• Keeping on an Even Keel – an entertaining and accessible film and Q & A on the role and responsibilities of the bank.
• The Bank of England, Past & Present – a brief history of the bank.

Taking young business students to the Museum of Brands opens them up to the work that goes on behind the scenes of some of the country’s most iconic brands. As well as exploring the history of brands like Marmite and OXO, the museum affords youngsters an insight into how consumer culture has evolved over the past 100 years.

This fully immersive experience includes an introductory talk on the history of the museum, a visit to the Time Tunnel and Branding Hall, and the fun challenge of the Museum quiz, where students compete to recall the slogans and jingles of some very well-known brands. In addition, students can participate in a range of interactive, curriculum-aligned workshops like Graphics and Branding, Customer Profiling and Brand Evolution, which include post-visit activity sheets for multiple GCSE programmes.

Thorpe Park, one of the country’s most popular theme parks, is committed to inspiring youth education through enjoyment. Educational groups are well catered for, with a range of experiences focusing on particular curriculum needs. These can be delivered through EduTasters (30-minute TED talks for bite-sized learning) and All Ed’clusive (offering more comprehensive 45-minute workshops).

Business students are able to explore how the park has achieved and sustains its stellar success through a Marketing Workshop, which brings their curriculum learning to life by introducing them to the evolution of Thorpe Park’s brand repositioning. They’ll be introduced to the methods large brands use for expansion and learn how to recognise the benefits and risks of exponential growth.

Coca Cola is one of the world’s most recognisable brands and the company is committed to “bringing the worlds of education and business closer together”. On a visit to the state-of-the-art Coca Cola Education Centre, pupils are provided with a valuable, hands-on insight into the world of manufacturing for the iconic global brand. 

The curriculum-focused tours can be tailored to teachers’ learning requirements and students will participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the high-speed production line, which includes a two-hour workshop/presentation.