{pluson e}Students from Barnsley College are gaining real life work experience in several of the new shops and services launched by the College in 2011.

Funky Dory, a gift gallery shop and Crumbs, a bistro café have been open to the public for three months. Both shops are located in the Old Mill Lane building and are staffed predominately by students from the Learning for Living and Work department, who working alongside their tutors, research, stock and dress the shop as well as serve customers.

The Learning for Living and Work Department aims to prepare students with learning difficulties, additional needs and disabilities for work and independent living.

These commercial ventures and those in Zest Restaurant and Images Training and Treatment Salon, which are also open to the public, allow students to develop transferrable skills in customer service, monetary and presentation skills as well as offering specialist experience in their preferred careers.

Beyond the specific departments working in these areas, enterprise and entrepreneurship are encouraged amongst students from across the College.

17 year old Barnsley College Fashion Student, Jacob Heptinstall is the creator of Jacobette Jewellery which he has been selling through Funky Dory.

Funky Dory has helped Jacob turn his hobby into an industry: “I saw that there would be a shop opening in the new building when we started back in September and when they opened and were asking for students to volunteer their work to be sold and I thought it would be a good way to keep my hobby up.”

Jacob, a former Ecclesfield School student, met with the Manager of the shop to discuss his products and agree charges with them gaining an insight into real life business negotiations.

Jess Griggs, Retail Instructor, said:  “Working in Funky Dory is a great way for our learners to gain the experience and confidence they need to go on to be successful in the future and the students I teach in here have grown enormously in confidence and ability over such a short period of time. The shop also serves to showcase some of the fantastic talent that the College has to offer and these products have proven very popular with our customers.”

Jacob’s line of recycled beads and precious stone jewellery is being sold in the store which faces out on Church Street with Crumbs café one door along from Crumbs. 
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