Workskills Group: Art Shed

Our Workskills Group: A Hands-On Approach to Skill Building

As part of the Workskills program, our group has participated in valuable work placements that provide real-world experience and help consolidate their learning. This year, one of the program’s highlights has been our partnership with Art Shed, a local arts and crafts retailer, where participants have completed 5-week placements with a 90-minute shift every Friday.

The Experience

Last term, Carmelo and Emma completed their placements, and this term, Toby and Alex have continued the program. During their placements, they took on tasks that developed key retail skills, including:

• Front-facing stock: Ensuring products are neatly displayed.
• Product placement: Tidying shelves and restocking.
• Restocking: Ensuring stock is available on the shelves.

These tasks not only introduced the group to retail operations but also helped strengthen essential workplace skills.

Skill Development

A key focus of the placement was reinforcing literacy. This included reading aisle signage and product labels to locate and organise stock, building their reading and comprehension skills in a practical setting.

Teamwork was also a major focus. Participants worked together on tasks like organising shelves, fostering collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. The supportive Art Shed team played a vital role in boosting participants’ confidence and communication abilities.

Positive Feedback and Impact

The feedback from both the Workskills group and the Art Shed team has been overwhelmingly positive. Retail Manager Lenis praised the group, saying, “I love the positivity they bring.” This reflects the participants’ enthusiasm and the positive impact they’ve had on the Art Shed team.

Looking Ahead

Given the success of this partnership, we’re hopeful for an ongoing weekly placement at Art Shed for future Workskills groups. The support from Art Shed, combined with the skills development opportunities, has proven to be an invaluable learning experience for all involved.