PUTTING their newly acquired skills to the test, business students from a local college managed to raise £700 during an assessment for their course.

No less than 150 Business Level 3 Extended Diploma students from Truro College assembled to plan, organise and execute a fundraising event, which would not only raise money for Children in Need but would count towards their assessment on the course.

As part of the assessment, the students had to plan and manage an event from start to finish, which included creating budgets, completing risk assessments and developing marketing campaigns.

As a part of the marketing process a group of the students were interviewed on BBC Radio Cornwall. Students also created posters and social media campaigns to reach students and staff around the college.

For many of the students the task was their first time running and managing an event on such a large scale. Indeed, with approximately 5,000 students on the campus each day they had to prepare for the busiest outcome.

For the fundraising, event students organised 30 different activities and stalls, which included food and clothing stalls, hair dying, Xbox tournaments and splash the teacher to name a few.

Eleni Katsimberis, one of the business students involved with the event, found the experience to be hugely beneficial, saying: “We had to plan everything from the beginning and today’s the day we get to see it all come together. We had to do risk assessments and anything you would have to do for an event like this. It’s been a really good opportunity and experience as we got to understand what’s behind an event like this.”

Catherine Wallis, Business lecturer at the college, was thrilled with the students’ achievement, saying: “The students were excellent in planning, managing and delivering a business event for the whole college. Through this practical element of the course they have been able to experience first-hand how and why planning represents the most important element in the event management process. The practical skills and insights that students learn on the Extended Diploma in Business ensure that our students are equipped with the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding for future success.”