Clarks Village has introduced an exciting enterprise challenge, 'Made in Somerset', in collaboration with Crispin School Academy and King Arthur's School in Wincanton.

The challenge calls on young minds to creatively transform a vacant unit to benefit the Somerset community and visitors.

Participating students engaged in a series of three workshops, focusing on key aspects such as placemaking, understanding customer needs and guest experiences, as well as sustainability, community, and responsible consumerism. The aim was to guide them in designing an appealing retail space.

The students will soon have the opportunity to present their concepts to an expert panel. Their pitches will integrate the knowledge acquired from the workshops, covering everything from conceptualisation, targeting the right audience, to designing and marketing the space. The final presentations will feature various components including:

• A detailed diagram of their retail concept.
• Mood boards and branding ideas for the space.
• Customer research survey questions.
• Sample social media content.
• Sustainability aspects of the unit.

The 'Made in Somerset' initiative underscores young people's crucial role in evolving the retail landscape, making it a force for positive community change. It highlights the shift in retail spaces from merely shopping locations to experience-rich social hubs that reinforce community bonds.

This project is a collaborative effort between Clarks Village, its parent company Landsec, and Ahead Partnership, funded by the Landsec Futures Fund. This newly launched £20m social impact fund aims to enhance social value in the communities it operates in. Through this challenge, 30 students from Somerset will directly benefit from the Landsec Futures Fund.

Chris Davis, Centre Director at Clarks Village, commented: "'Made in Somerset' offers us priceless insights from the youth's perspective, crucial for Clarks Village's future development. Engaging with young ideas allows us to continue offering our guests relevant and engaging retail experiences. We eagerly await the final presentations in March to explore the innovative proposals from the participants.

"Partnering with Ahead Partnership, which has supported over 10,000 young people alongside Landsec, ensures our efforts significantly benefit our local community. This initiative not only fosters creativity but also builds confidence and skills in young individuals, aiding their career development."

Georgina Johnson, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership, added: "We're thrilled to launch the inaugural 'Made in Somerset' challenge. Feedback from previous national participants underscores the value of connecting young people with employers. We're grateful to Clarks Village for dedicating their resources and expertise to this engaging and creative challenge, supporting youth in our community."