Students Embark On Mini Social Enterprise

Employability skills and social enterprise are at the heart of the newly launched Re:Enterprise programme at Sussex Downs College, Lewes.

Seven young adults at Sussex Downs College, Lewes, have come together on a new programme called Re:Enterprise. The nine-week course is designed to support local young people not in education, employment or training, teaching them basic woodworking skills, as they design and produce their own wooden products to sell from recycled pallets.

Learners are encouraged to become a mini social enterprise. They create their own business plan; produce risk assessments for their workroom inspired by the Locher Project, and work with the local community to source both materials and locations to sell.

So far, the group have produced wooden crates with their own unique designs, along with clocks and mirrors. The hands-on approach to the programme has inspired learners to update their CV’s and start applying for jobs. One learner has started creating her own business plan to set up her own card making initiative. Another student is preparing to start college in September.

Henrietta Valler-Still, Community & Engagement Coordinator at Sussex Downs College, says, “It is the essence of creativity and skill building which is most unique about this programme. We have been supported by the community in many ways, from venues supporting us as locations to sell products from, to Harvey’s in Lewes who kindly donated the wooden pallets.”

The learners are readily completing their products as they prepare to sell them to the public. Their first day of selling will be in Newhaven at both the Hillcrest Centre and in Newhaven Town Centre on Thursday 20^th July.