Year six children from Roe Lee Park Primary School in Blackburn are getting ready to take control of The Mall Blackburn.
They are all set to shadow The Mall’s management team as part of its Takeover Day on Wednesday 10th October.
The unique initiative, which is supported by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, will give the youngsters the chance to see the exciting world of retail first hand and share their opinions and ideas.
The class will work alongside General Manager Loraine Jones, Operations Manager Andrew Smith, Soft Services Manager Ronnie O’Keeffe, Marketing Manager Laura Diffey and other staff members to gain first hand insight into how the different roles contribute to the daily running of a busy shopping centre.
Following behind the scenes tours of the service area, control room, recycling facilities and management offices the children will be tasked with presenting ideas that could further improve operations before being given certificates and goody bags.
Roe Lee Park Primary School Deputy Headteacher, Miss Butterworth, said the class are very much looking forward to the day.
“This is a fabulous opportunity to see The Mall from a totally different perspective.
“I am sure they all visit with their parents, but what they see is only a small part of a huge operation.
“It also fits perfectly with our Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum by making children more aware of the world around them and getting them to start thinking about what career path they want to follow.”
Loraine Jones, General Manager at The Mall Blackburn, said: “The Mall’s Takeover Day is a fabulous initiative that we all really look forward. Last year we welcomed St Paul’s RC Primary School and they had fantastic day.
“The pupils always immerse themselves in the day and their enthusiasm knows no bounds!
“I am a firm believer that children should get the chance to learn outside the classroom and see, first hand, the world of work whenever possible.
“We look forward to meeting Miss Butterworth and her class and hope they are going to enjoy the day as much as we will.”
Pictures show:
Loraine Jones and her team with the teachers and pupils from St Paul’s RC Primary School, who came to the 2017 Takeover Day
