Students from Shireland CBSO Academy in West Bromwich will take their student-run business, Happiness is Handmade, to Forge Mill Farm on Sunday 4 October 2026, from 10.00am to 4.00pm, where they will sell their handmade products to visitors during the farm’s pumpkin picking season.
The young entrepreneurs, who are members of the Academy’s Enterprise Club, will sell a selection of products including keyrings, stationery, coasters, guitar picks, portable games, bookmarks and other items which can be customised on site.
Following successful sales at events including the Sandwell Valley Dog Fair during the previous academic year, students will once again take their products into the community at Forge Mill Farm. The event will give them another opportunity to put their business skills into practice and gain experience selling directly to the public.
What began as an after-school enterprise project in 2025 has since developed into an established student-run business. With a £400 start-up loan from the Principal, students created their own brand, launched an Etsy shop and developed a range of products designed with their customers in mind.
The business has now sold more than 130 items, including an increasing number of bespoke and made-to-order products.
The Enterprise Club gives students the opportunity to experience the realities of running a business, from developing and marketing products to managing money and responding to customers’ needs.
School Principal, David Green, commented: “Giving young people real responsibility changes the way they see themselves. They’re not simply learning about marketing, budgeting or customer service, they’re making decisions and taking responsibility for the outcome and seeing the impact of those decisions for themselves within the business.
“We’ve seen our students become more confident in expressing their ideas, working with others and building something from the ground up. That sense of ownership is important because it helps them recognise that they are capable of more than they might have thought.”
The Enterprise Club forms part of the Academy’s wider commitment to providing students with opportunities to develop practical lifelong skills, build confidence and gain an understanding of business and the wider working world alongside their classroom learning.
The students will be joining Forge Mill Farm as it begins its autumn, pumpkin picking season. Visitors will be able to choose from thousands of pumpkins in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as enjoy the farm’s animals and autumn-themed photo opportunities.
Visitors to Forge Mill Farm on Sunday 4 October will be able to meet the Happiness is Handmade team, browse their handmade products and support the students as they continue to develop their business.
