Whitley Bay focus for Apprentice-style challenge

06-JUL-09

Issued by: Jeanette Hedley

Young student 'apprentices' from a Northumberland school have given their verdict on the way forward for the future success of Whitley Bay.

A return of the town as a family destination, with donkey rides on the sand, water sports and a programme of markets and festivals could be the answer to the town's success, concluded two teams of youngsters from Cramlington Learning Village.

The Year Nine high school students took time out from usual lesson to develop their wider skills in a series of challenges in the style of the popular BBC Apprentice programme.

North Tyneside Council hosted two of the groups of students, who took on the challenge of coming up with their solution for marketing and branding Whitley Bay to potential visitors.

After a morning in Whitley Bay to carry out a fact-finding exercise and develop their team working skills, they returned to the council's Quadrant headquarters on Cobalt Business Park, to create a formal presentation setting out their ideas.

They then pitched their findings to a panel of North Tyneside Council staff and answered questions on their findings.

Mr John Fleet, the council's town centre manager, who led the panel said: "We were very impressed with the hard work put into this challenge by the youngsters.

"After only half a day visiting the town both teams came to the conclusion that in the current economic climate Whitley Bay's future lies in attracting families to the town.

"And they came up with a wealth of ideas, not just for rebranding the town but also activities they think would attract more people to Whitley Bay. We were all very impressed."

Catherine Hall, teacher of Business and Enterprise, said: "The students have all agreed that the Whitley bay challenge was the favourite of the week-long event.

"It helped them to develop a whole range of skills which are key to their future success - particularly working collaboratively, presenting and organisational skills.

"The students particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of people who actually worked in the field they were completing their challenge. "