RBS grant win takes logistics board game a step closer to reality

A board game devised to teach school age children about logistics and the important role it plays in a modern society, has received £9,500 from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) as part of RBS’s Inspiring Enterprise initiative.

The game –Business on the Move – is the brainchild of two former schoolteachers – Andy Page and Pat Smedley.

Players are challenged to run a business that must respond to customers’ orders, moving different products to their domestic market by combinations of air, sea, rail and road quickly, profitably and environmentally responsibly.

“Players must make the same decisions businesses make every day. How do I best deliver? Will I make a profit? How should I grow? How can I cut my carbon footprint?” explains Andy Page.

Business on the Move will go in to production this autumn and some 1500 copies will be distributed to schools and training providers across the UK free of charge. As many as 15,000 young people are projected to play Business on the Move within 12 months of its launch.

The initial production run has been funded by the generous sponsorship of several leading logistics companies – including CHEP, Norbert Dentressangle and TIR Training as well as by key sector bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Skills for Logistics and the UK Warehousing Association.

”The logistics industry has responded very positively to the concept of the game,” said Pat Smedley.

She continued: “As a result, we have managed to raise over 90% of the sponsorship needed to go into production. Just a few more companies are needed to make the game board complete. A multimodal logistics provider, a Distribution Centre and a few retailers and/or brand names known to young people would get us over the finishing line and also make the game feel more ‘real’.”

“The RBS Inspiring Enterprise grant funding is very significant because it will enable the hundreds of free games being supplied by our business sponsors to be supported by a quality training programme for teachers. This training will ensure that young people get the full benefit of the Business on the Move experience.”

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