Gift Gang is a student-run enterprise embedded within the Skills for Life and Work course at Glasgow Clyde College’s Cardonald Campus. Learners design, produce and sell handmade items such as mugs, bags, coasters and cushions. Through operating a small business and trading at markets, students gain practical experience of production, customer engagement and retail operations while developing confidence and entrepreneurial skills in a real-world setting.
Context and Rationale
The Skills for Life and Work course supports young people with learning disabilities who require additional support to develop skills for everyday life and employment. Many learners benefit most from practical, experiential learning approaches that allow them to apply knowledge in real-world contexts.
The Gift Gang initiative was developed to create a meaningful enterprise environment where students can practise workplace behaviours while gaining hands-on experience of running a small business. By engaging in product creation, marketing and sales activities, students develop confidence, independence and communication skills.
Entrepreneurial learning is particularly valuable for these learners because it encourages initiative, problem-solving and adaptability. The activity helps students understand how their skills can translate into employment opportunities while providing a supportive environment in which they can practise real workplace responsibilities.
The Learning Activity
Gift Gang is embedded directly within the Skills for Life and Work programme as a practical, project-based enterprise activity.
Students operate a fully functioning small business in which they design and produce handmade products such as mugs, bags, coasters and cushions. Working in the college workshop, students learn how to create items from start to finish while maintaining quality and following safe working practices.
The entrepreneurial challenge extends beyond production. Students also promote and sell their products through the college’s Re:Store shop and at market stalls both on campus and at external trading events. During these activities, learners interact with customers, explain their products, answer questions and support sales transactions.
Teaching and learning approaches focus on experiential learning. Students work collaboratively to complete tasks while developing workplace behaviours such as timekeeping, communication and professionalism. Although staff supervise the activity, students take responsibility for key elements of the business, encouraging independence and teamwork.
Assessment focuses on participation, personal development and the demonstration of employability skills. Students reflect on their experiences, including how they engage with customers, contribute to the team and develop their skills through participation in the enterprise.
Through this activity, students gain direct experience of how a business operates—from designing and producing goods to marketing and selling them to real customers.
Skills and Capabilities Developed
The Gift Gang project develops a range of entrepreneurial and employability skills through practical experience.
Students strengthen problem-solving and opportunity recognition by producing items that appeal to customers and responding to feedback during market events. Creativity is developed through designing products and personalising items for different audiences.
Direct interaction with customers helps students develop customer awareness and communication skills, while involvement in pricing, presentation and selling builds commercial awareness.
Working together on production and retail activities also strengthens teamwork and collaboration, while participating in real trading environments helps students build confidence, resilience and adaptability. These experiences help prepare learners for future employment opportunities and encourage greater independence in both work and everyday life.
Impact and Outcomes
Gift Gang has had a strong positive impact on learners’ confidence, independence and readiness for employment. By participating in real business activities, students gain practical experience of workplace expectations and responsibilities.
Students become more confident communicating with customers and working as part of a team. Many also demonstrate increased motivation and engagement in their learning as they see their work valued by customers who purchase their products.
The enterprise produces tangible outputs including handmade goods that are sold through the college shop and at external events. Seeing their products purchased by real customers gives students a strong sense of pride and achievement.
More broadly, Gift Gang enhances the Skills for Life and Work course by embedding meaningful enterprise learning that supports personal development, employability skills and progression towards future employment pathways.