Empowering Portsmouth’s Youth: ‘Made in Portsmouth’ challenge ignites innovation
Gunwharf Quays has announced the launch of the ‘Made in Portsmouth’ enterprise challenge, now in its sixth iteration.
This year, students from Admiral Lord Nelson School, Miltoncross Academy, The Portsmouth Academy, and Trafalgar School are taking part, embracing the opportunity to impact the Portsmouth community positively.
The 2024 ‘Made in Portsmouth’ challenge has been revitalised with a brand-new project, encouraging students to reimagine a vacant unit for the betterment of the local community and its visitors. Participants engaged in three insightful workshops, focusing on placemaking, customer insights and guest experience, and sustainability, community, and responsible consumerism. These sessions equipped them with the knowledge to design an innovative retail space.
Following the workshops, the teams are set to present their proposals to a panel of experts, applying the insights gained. Their pitches will address all facets of developing a sustainable retail environment, detailing their concept, target audience understanding, design, and marketing strategies. Their final submissions will feature:
– A detailed diagram of their concept
– Mood boards and branding materials for their space
– Survey questions for customer feedback
– Examples of social media promotion
– Sustainability strategies for the retail unit
The ‘Made in Portsmouth’ initiative underscores the vital role young people play in evolving the retail sector, advocating for their engagement as catalysts for community-centric change. It acknowledges the shift in retail towards experiential offerings, reflecting the transformation of shopping centres into community hubs.
This school engagement programme, a collaborative effort between Gunwharf Quays, Landsec, and Ahead Partnership, benefits from the Landsec Futures Fund’s backing. This recently established £20 million fund is committed to fostering social value in Landsec’s communities. The 2024 challenge promises to enrich the experiences of 35 local students through the Landsec Futures Fund.
Yvonne Clay, Centre Director at Gunwharf Quays, commented, “Engaging with the younger generation through ‘Made in Portsmouth’ offers us invaluable insights, aiding our ongoing commitment to deliver appealing retail experiences at Gunwharf Quays. We eagerly anticipate the innovative ideas that will emerge from the upcoming final presentations in April.”
Georgina Johnson, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership, shared, “It’s a privilege to spearhead the sixth iteration of this challenge. The positive feedback from previous participants highlights the significance of practical learning experiences, facilitated by real-world employer engagement. We are immensely thankful to Gunwharf Quays for their enduring support, aiding us in making a real difference in the lives of young individuals.”
To learn more about the ‘Made in Portsmouth’ challenge, please visit Gunwharf Quays’ website.
