Sixth Form News

Café Kingdom earned first place in this year's collaborative work-related learning event at Bedford High School for Girls by designing an exciting brand-related dining concept for the successful Disney store chain.

The competitive world of retail marketing was at the forefront of the girls' minds as the whole of Lower 5 gained a practical insight into the commercial world, and through this ‘hands on' day sharpened their enterprise skills in a creative and fun project day.

The girls proved their transferable skills in brainstorming, creative thinking, decision making, team work, research, time management and presentation skills when they embarked on this year's ‘Marketing Apprentice' event.

Working in teams of ten, the girls responded to a ‘client brief' challenging them to conceptualise their own in-store dining facility for a branded store of their choice, meeting the needs of our ‘café' lifestyles. As ‘dynamic management consultants' the girls defined their target markets, undertook ‘SWOT analyses', developed marketing strategies as well as designing promotional campaigns to impress the judges.

Market leading coffee company, Starbucks, shared their real-life knowledge of establishing, growing and managing successful businesses. Lucy Blundell and Lizzie Smith, both store managers of Starbucks branches in Milton Keynes, supported the project by giving a tour of the ‘Starbucks way' and honing the teams' concept presentations.

The day culminated in creative team presentations to a judging panel of marketing experts including Lucy and Lizzie from Starbucks. The final concepts, ranging from cafés in toy shops through to music stores, airport lounges and fashion outlets, demonstrated the girls' innovation and entrepreneurial flair whilst testing their logical thinking and practical talents.