The business and humanities department came up with an idea for an Enterprise Zone after seeing a similar project during an exchange to Denmark. The Enterprise Zone is like a small business where students raise funds for charity and an end of year trip. Students develop fund raising ideas together and their tutor helps them to turn these ideas into reality. Ideas range from making handmade soap, cards and origami decorations for sale around the college to selling handmade jewellery for a local jeweller on commission.
A budget of £2,000 was provided for furniture for the Enterprise Zone, at our King’s Lynn campus, as initial thoughts were that new furniture was needed. However, it was suggested that property services should be consulted as they might have some furniture that could be reused to save costs. As it happens, they did! Desks and computer chairs from C Block and office bench systems from the LRC came from the Wisbech Campus. A meeting table and chairs came from Q810 in the Tower Block. The meeting chairs are currently being fitted with some new arms at a cost of £80, a significant saving on the original budget of £2,000.
Where possible, property services tries to reuse or upcycle furniture for use within the college with some furniture being reused more than once. During large refurbishments or when buildings are demolished any furniture that can’t be stored or reused is either sent for recycling or donated to organisations such as the British Heart Foundation. This is great for the environment and saves on disposal costs.
The Enterprise Zone fit-out was no exception to this reuse philosophy and, even though it’s not quite finished, students are already benefiting from their new space. Morgan Barker, a Level 2 Enterprise and Employability student, said: “It’s definitely helped our course as it gives us space to plan our fundraising events without being interrupted by other students.”
Their lecturer, Abigail Cassie, commented: “It’s amazing how much the students’ confidence has grown and the Enterprise Zone will help prepare students for a level 3 course or the workplace.”
So far, students have raised over £200, some of which will be donated to a charity working in Africa to support entrepreneurs and small business start-ups. This project has the added benefit of increasing students’ awareness of businesses around the world. Many businesses in Africa are set up using reused and recycled furniture so this project is particularly poignant.
Katherine Middleton, Energy and Environment Officer, said: “All too often the work that property services does for teaching staff goes unnoticed. This is a great example of college support and faculty departments working together to benefit students. I’m really pleased that the Enterprise Zone will raise funds for charity and help business start-ups in Africa.”
The Enterprise Zone fit-out was no exception to this reuse philosophy and, even though it’s not quite finished, students are already benefiting from their new space. Morgan Barker, a Level 2 Enterprise and Employability student, said: “It’s definitely helped our course as it gives us space to plan our fundraising events without being interrupted by other students.”
Their lecturer, Abigail Cassie, commented: “It’s amazing how much the students’ confidence has grown and the Enterprise Zone will help prepare students for a level 3 course or the workplace.”
So far, students have raised over £200, some of which will be donated to a charity working in Africa to support entrepreneurs and small business start-ups. This project has the added benefit of increasing students’ awareness of businesses around the world. Many businesses in Africa are set up using reused and recycled furniture so this project is particularly poignant.
Katherine Middleton, Energy and Environment Officer, said: “All too often the work that property services does for teaching staff goes unnoticed. This is a great example of college support and faculty departments working together to benefit students. I’m really pleased that the Enterprise Zone will raise funds for charity and help business start-ups in Africa.”
