Somerset consultancy helps students support air ambulance
A Somerset business has helped present a cheque for £450 to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as a result of an educational fund-raising exercise by a group of students.
The 10 students all attend King’s College, Taunton, where they took part in a Young Enterprise business programme tutored by old boy Jon Wilkins, who runs Wilkins Health and Safety Services.
Through Young Enterprise, the students created a business called Pic-Sell and made greetings cards which they sold in packs of five for £2.50.
They used professional photographs taken by the father of one of the students and produced cards in three themes of ‘landscape’, ‘wildlife’, and ‘black and white’, before shortlisting samples and printing firms, and then marketing their product.
The group of students, all aged 14 and 15 years, agreed the profits would be given to Mr Wilkins’ chosen charity, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Mr Wilkins, whose daughter Ruth presently attends King’s College, came to the college’s rescue and stepped in to help at short notice after the original Young Enterprise tutor was unable to attend.
He was approached by Young Enterprise because he is a member of the college’s old boys association, the ‘Old Aluredians’, and has been mentoring the youngsters once or twice a week for the past six months as they successfully formed Pic-Sell and marketed their greetings cards.
Mr Wilkins said: “As somebody who has developed my own nationwide health and safety consultancy, I have experienced the pressures involved and know just how difficult it is to be successful in business these days.
“I was therefore delighted to be able to pass on some of my skills and practical advice based on experience to students at my old college who may one day be setting up their own businesses for real.
"They were a great group to work with. “It is very refreshing working with students as they have loads of new ideas and are very imaginative.
"I am now looking forward to working with a new group in September.”
Wilkins Health and Safety Services, which has recently relocated to larger premises near Langport, in Somerset, provides health and safety consultancy services throughout the UK.
It also offers a remote advice service as well as running a full range of health and safety training courses and seminars for business representatives at every level from senior executives to new recruits in order to help companies comply with their legal requirements.
Anybody who needs health and safety advice can contact Wilkins Health and Safety Services by calling 08704 030470 or emailing jon@jonwilkins.co.uk or by visiting www.wilkinshealthandsafety.co.uk
Date: Jun 18 2007 9:09AM
Category: BUSINESS ADVERTORIAL