Enterprise, Industry and Benjamin Gott

This learning journey uses the life of Benjamin Gott (1762-1841) as a model for entrepreneurial skill and understanding. Gott was a cloth buyer who became a manufacturer, and the development of his business is an example of the growth of the factory system. He experimented with new ways of making wool cloth,  introducing innovations such as steam power. His enterprises were so successful he was rumoured to be a millionaire and his cloth was sold from South America to China.

 

Students can pitt their wits against Benjamin Gott in the interactive game or why not download the teachers pack on Gotts Challenges and set your students a real enterprise challenge!

Curriculum Links:

This Learning Journey links to three key strands of KS3 & KS4 enterprise education:

1. Enterprise Knowledge and Understanding are explored through Gott’s enterprise capability e.g. his innovation, risk assessment and management of change, his business understanding of the market, competition, investment.

2. Enterprise Skills e.g. Gott's decision-making, thinking and learning skills, leadership, risk management, network building and selling products.

3. Enterprise Attributes e.g. Gott's problem solving approach, ambition, open-mindedness and planning for the impact of financial decisions.

This Learning Journey supports the QCA Work-Related Learning Framework for Enterprise Capability in highlighting three core attitudes:

• Handling Uncertainty
• Responding positively to change
• Making reasonable risk / reward assessments

Aims and Objectives (based on ILFA generic learning outcomes)

Students will have the opportunity to:

• Gain a better understanding of entrepreneurial attitudes
• Learn about the way enterprising businesses operate, e.g. conditions of work and debates about rights and responsibilities in the workplace
• Have the opportunity to develop problem solving skills using an interactive game
• Be surprised by some of the similarities between being a business person in Leeds in 1805 compared to today
• Explore the important business attitudes of taking an interest in the wider role of business, its responsibilities and resources

Find out about more inventors from Leeds