Laithwaites is an excellent example of how local business can work in successful partnership with young people in education.

The Enterprise Education programme at Brookfields has had a long and positive relationship with Laithwaites and is based upon a desire to re-cycle surplus industrial materials such as their wooden wine cases, in order to produce useful products that can be sold on. Some of you will already be familiar with our very desirable trademark wine cases that appear in local retail outlets between Newbury and Maidenhead. We are able to use the damaged wine cases by dismantling them and turn them into items such as garden peg labels, key holders and key rings, while the small scrap timbers and bottle supports are bagged for kindling.

Throughout the process of sourcing the materials, designing the products and marketing them, the students develop skills, knowledge and experience in the world of work. They develop a sense of responsibility and team work as they all become specialist cogs in a team production line.

The mutual valued link Brookfields and Laithwaites was cemented further by our students being invited to participate in the grape harvest at Theale Vineyard, where some 2 tons of top quality grapes are expected to contribute to an exceptional vintage. The students were shown how to  harvest the grapes by Laithwaites wine guru Anne Linder.

It would be easy to sit back and congratulate each other on a job well done but Laithwaites spotted a further opportunity for us to help them help the Prince’s Trust, Million Makers fund. Brookfields students grasped the chance to play a key role by developing a new product.

The challenge was to produce 150 trays for the two day Laithwaites Wine Show to be held at the prestigious Vinopolis venue in London. Over a very tight time scale the technicians, teachers and students pulled out the stops to meet the deadlines.

The trays really were magnificent. The various Chateau names and vintages were carefully removed from old wine cases and incorporated into a range of wooden trays that gained unanimous approval. These were all hand sanded to a fine finish by the students and given a protective coat of Danish oil. Tags and logo’s were attached and the entire consignment was despatched to London ready for the Wine Show.

Over 200 wines were presented by growers from all over the world and our products were centre stage. The entire stock sold out and Million Maker’s will be able to continue to help with the education, training and employment of young people in the UK thanks to initiatives like this. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Laithwaites and highlight it as a stunning example of the genuine contribution that our students can offer.