STUDENTS at St Benedict’s Catholic High School in Whitehaven have become BEC consultants as part of a trailblazing project to create new leaders.

10 students spent five days at the Eagle Labs Cumbria based in the Bus Station in Whitehaven where they were tasked with developing a real BEC project to turn an empty building into a community sound lab and event space that will be managed by Soundwave.

The new consultants were given a £500,000 budget and were challenged to consider all aspects of the industry from finance and design to marketing and safety.

Two teams made a final presentation to BEC officials including Chief Executive, Michael Pemberton; Head of Developments, Stephen Holland; and Director of Finance and Support Services, Gemma Leadbetter together with David Roberts and Emma Dockray from Soundwave.

Whitehaven News: The project will develop an area at the Bus Station in WhitehavenThe project will develop an area at the Bus Station in Whitehaven

The genuine hands-on assignment was part of the ProjX Work Awareness Programme.

Stephen Holland, BEC’s Head of Developments said: “This is a real live project, they were given a brief by BEC and Soundwave as to the project requirements, and I was blown away by the professionalism shown by the students whose fantastic suggestions and pitches will help shape the blueprint for the sound lab project.”

Mrs Kelso, Careers Lead at St Benedict’s said: “The Centre for Leadership performance have had a great impact on our pupils; thanks to their carefully  thought out and well-resourced project.

"Our pupils gained a complete new skill set and their levels of confidence have increased volumes. Many thanks to everyone who kindly gave their time to make this week a huge success.”  

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