Students’ lesson in business

AGROUP of creative and media and hair and beauty diploma students from Barclay School have spent a week at the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage working on business activities to support the Cancer Hair Care Charity.

The activity was organised by the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the students worked for the charity for the week.

The students learnt about how cancer treatment affects young people particularly with regard to hair loss.

Jasmin Gupta from the charity gave the students the opportunity to experiment with wigs and hair pieces to demonstrate how young people can be helped to cope with this condition.

Students also took part in a professional photo shoot as well as creating mood boards, marketing concepts and logos which will help promote the services of the charity and support the development of the charity's website.

Students ended the week by using their entrepreneurial talents to sell Fair Trade products and Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the public from stalls at The Cromwell Hotel, Herts County Council's offices in Stevenage and at Stevenage Borough Council and generated a profit of over �350 for the charity.

John McBride from the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: "The students gained valuable experience of working in teams and to deadlines. They all had the opportunity to develop a variety of skills during the week that will assist them not only with their diploma studies but will also help guide them with regard to their future career choices and help with the development of key employability skills."

Jasmin Gupta from the Cancer Hair Care Charity said: "I truly believe that we have offered these young people a valuable working experience and one that will help them become responsible young adults we all wish to employ. I feel extremely proud to be part of their future.