Almost 50 student-led and alumni enterprises took part in South Eastern Regional College's (SERC) Halloween Markets, delivering a vibrant celebration of creativity, entrepreneurship and community spirit across the college's Lisburn, Bangor, Downpatrick and Ards campuses.
The Halloween-themed events transformed campuses into bustling market spaces where students from a wide range of curriculum areas could gain valuable experience of promoting their products and services, engaging with customers and developing the practical enterprise skills needed to succeed in business.
The markets brought together students offering visitors the opportunity to browse and purchase handmade crafts, artwork, jewellery, ceramics, baked goods, clothing and seasonal gifts, while also supporting charitable fundraising initiatives and student-led projects.
Visitors also enjoyed seasonal activities including face painting, competitions, lucky dips and fundraising initiatives supporting animal welfare charities. The markets were supported by the Students' Union who were on hand to promote opportunities and activities for students.
Siobhan Blaney, Senior Innovation Advisor at SERC, said, “Our Halloween Markets are the first of our seasonal fairs throughout the year. They are part of SERC's ongoing commitment to encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise development among students, where they have a platform to test business ideas, showcase their talents and build confidence in a real-world trading environment.
"It was wonderful to see so many students take the opportunity to showcase their businesses, engage with customers and gain hands-on experience of trading in a supportive setting."
She concluded, “The events also allowed students to raise awareness of important causes and build valuable skills that will support their future careers and business ambitions."
The college is planning a series of Christmas Markets in early December. Details will be posted on our events page shortly.
