Schoolchildren took time out of their classroom to sell products on a street market stall in London’s famous Petticoat Lane.
The 10 and 11-year-olds from Bethnal Green’s Virginia Primary sold hand-made products at the Thursday market with help from volunteers from the world of business.
It was organised as part of the BEE programme—Business, Enterprise and Employability—which is run by Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership in 16 East End primary and secondary schools.
The youngsters have been working with volunteers from Prudential Insurance to get hands-on experience of making and selling, aimed at developing their enterprise skills.
“The children loved it and were asking to do it again next week,” their teacher Salma Harris said. “They’ve gained so much from it and look forward to taking part again next year.”
They produced tote bags, picture frames, mini flower pots and fridge magnets to sell at the market.
The Education Partnership works in schools to help pupils learn more about the world of business. It has 300 businesses in Canary Wharf and the City running programmes that support education and connect students with a chance to experience the world of work.
The BEE programme is six financial literacy workshops for ages 9-11 which focus on enterprise and “employability” skills. Activities include balancing needs and wants, spending and saving and tax and banking.
Later sessions focus on enterprise, with pupils forming ‘companies’ to design, produce and sell a product before calculating the costs.
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