Working with a wider team, Rachel formed part of a group that entered the  “Entrepreneurial Challenge” – a task that saw groups create a business that was financially sustainable, while raising money for a chosen charity.

Rachel and her group picked an incredible important cause for their task. “We wanted to help a little boy called Kylan-J, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA),” explained Rachel. “Our actions were part of a drive by his parents to raise £5000 and we set ourselves the challenge to raise £3000 of this total.”

The team created a clever ‘trolley token’ business which made trolley token keyrings with green hearts and the initials ‘KJ’ on to show visible support for Kylan-J.

Every revenue generation angle was explored by the team: “To make our business sustainable and not just a ‘one off’ purchase option, we created different trolley token keyring themes, such as wedding favours. We also thought of other innovative ways to increase our market share, such as turning them into golf ball markers and gym locker tokens… just in case trolley tokens go out of fashion!”

National Apprenticeship Week is a national scheme that brings employers and apprentices together from across England. Gen 2’s National Apprenticeship Week celebrations saw apprentices from Lillyhall CAMNS and Energus centres take part, as well as Carlisle and Ulverston centres.

Rachel’s line manager and mentor at BEC, Executive Assistant Paula Mewse, shared her reaction: “Rachel has a really sharp mind for business and the innovative thinking she has show as part of this project demonstrates how well she is progressing during her time with BEC. We are all very proud.”

The team smashed their fundraising target – raising £3100. Meanwhile Kylan-J’s parents raises an impressive £3000 on their GoFundMe page to take the total raise to £6100. To donate head to: