PUPILS in more than 40 primary and secondary schools across Essex are gaining essential business and maths skills by creating their own eco-friendly playground shops from scratch. 

Essex County Council has teamed up with Pupils Profit to enable youngsters aged nine and above to set up and operate their own ECO Refill shops on school premises.

A total of 41 schools, including some in Colchester, Harwich, Harlow and Chelmsford, will be supplied with ECO Refill Shop Toolkits.

These toolkits are designed to inspire the children in creating their business plan, applying for job roles such as sales or finance manager, and learning how to manage their own business.

Louis Boyd, director of learning at The Trinity School in Colchester, said: “Our Year 7, 8 and 9 students are very excited to officially open their ECO Refill shop in the coming weeks. 

“Projects like this help teach business skills and environmental awareness in a fun and accessible way.

"It's providing our students with a way to contribute to our local community.”

Operating on a monthly basis, the shops also allow families and school staff to buy products straight from the playground.

The shops will stock products including eco-friendly body wash, hand wash and household cleaning products, as well as refill packs worth more than £200 in a bid to help combat plastic pollution.

All of the profits will be used to fund future purchases

Lizzie Gimblett, founder at Pupils Profit said the project encourages “greener habits in the wider school community”.

She said: “It’s amazing to see what children can achieve, and we’d love as many families as possible get involved and reduce plastic waste, whilst supporting the next generation’s entrepreneurial flare.”

The ECO Refill project is fully funded by Essex Year of Numbers, a £1.5 million initiative launched in September 2023 to help children and young people of all ages thrive in numeracy. 

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for education excellence, lifelong learning and employability, said: “Essex Year of Numbers empowers children of all ages to develop a lifelong love for numeracy.

“We want all children across Essex to feel more comfortable and confident when working with numbers.

"Initiatives such as the ECO Refill project, which strengthen business acumen, whilst also encouraging fun and creativity, play a crucial role in making children feel at ease with maths."

For more information, and to access resources, please visit essexyearofnumbers.co.uk or email essex.yearofnumbers@essex.gov.uk.