AFTER weeks of business planning The Dorcan Academy’s Business and Enterprise students made more than £400 in sales revenue at their enterprise event at Patheon Ltd, proceeds of which will go to Swindon’s Young Carers’ charity.

Products ranged from candles, bath salts and soaps to homemade lemonade, cakes, popcorn and sweets bags.

As part of their final GCSE assessment students were required to calculate start-up costs, predict profits, set prices and decide on a marketing campaign for their own small products.

Victoria Evans, head of business, ICT and media at the academy said the students had demonstrated real business skills in getting their ideas off the ground.

She said: “The students were a credit to the school conducting themselves in a professional manner in order to sell their products. I was impressed with the range of products and their high quality finish. One group even sourced natural bees wax to make their candles. At Dorcan we are proud to be able to continue to offer the students opportunities to develop skills valued by employers, alongside more traditional academic courses. In a time of education cuts we feel it is important to offer our students the opportunities which prepare them for the world of work. We’d like to thank Patheon for their support in doing this.”