On Friday 8th May and Friday 12th June students from Hereward College and Riverbank Academy will be hosting a Community Pop Up Shop between 10 – 12 at Coventry Cathedral with a variety of hand crafted items and products.

This initiative forms part of the West Midlands Combined Authority Mayor’s Youth Plan, to provide more work experience for students to develop their employability, financial, teamwork and customer service skills. More importantly they are SO excited to talk to local residents so please pop along to say hi.

All students have some special educational needs or disability (SEND) who may be facing various barriers to work experience and future employment.

Every young person deserves first-hand experiences of the workplace—through work visits, shadowing, and hands-on opportunities—to explore career paths and build vital networks. This is especially important for young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). Our WMCA Careers Hub Pop-Up Shops across various venues provide an inclusive space where schools and colleges can bring their SEND students to run their own shop, gaining confidence and developing key employability skills. From creating products like planters, bird boxes, candles, and cards to designing marketing materials and managing sales, students learn teamwork, customer service, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. These experiences prepare them for the future while showcasing their creativity and talent.