Students from Shireland CBSO Academy showcased their creativity and entrepreneurial skills as their student-led business, Happiness is Handmade, featured at Shireland Biomedical UTC’s annual Culture Day celebrations.
Created through Shireland CBSO Academy’s Enterprise Club, Happiness is Handmade gives students the opportunity to design, create and sell their own handmade products while developing valuable skills in areas including marketing, budgeting, design and customer engagement.
The venture was among a range of local organisations, businesses and community groups taking part in the Academy’s Black Country Fair, giving students the opportunity to promote their work and engage with customers.
This year’s event incorporated a focus on Black Country Day, which is marked annually on 14 July to celebrate the history, heritage and identity of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton as part of the wider Black Country Festival.
David Green, Principal at Shireland CBSO Academy, said: “Preparing our students for the future means giving them opportunities to apply their learning in meaningful, real-world contexts. Enterprise projects like Happiness is Handmade help students develop skills that go beyond the curriculum, from creativity and communication to resilience, adaptability and problem-solving.
“By supporting students to take ownership of their ideas and see them develop into something tangible, we help them build confidence in their own abilities and recognise the contribution they can make within their community. Experiences such as these play an important role in developing well-rounded young people who are equipped with the skills, confidence and ambition to thrive beyond the classroom.”
The student venture formed part of Shireland Biomedical UTC’s wider Culture Day celebrations, which brought together students, families and the local community to celebrate creativity, culture and connection.
