STUDENTS at Liverpool Community College (LCC) are to get real experience of setting up and running businesses.

LCC is to develop a number of “learning companies” covering different industries – with some being joint ventures with commercial partners.

They will be run by apprentices employed to work alongside industry professionals and will provide an alternative for students for whom full-time education is not an option.

They will also provide work experience placements and internship opportunities for students on full-time courses.

Established as commercial entities, the learning companies will seek to generate commercial contracts and reinvest profits back into the business for growth and to ensure the employment and continuous training of apprentices.

Ventures in the pipeline include a motor garage and repair shop, a catering company and a fashion studio

There will also be joint ventures with commercial partners, including a media production company with Smaller Earth founder and entrepreneur, Chris Arnold, and a digital marketing company in partnership with Liverpool-based marketing communications agency, Kenyon Fraser.

Jayne Worthington, LCC assistant principal commercial and business, said: “The learning companies will act as a fantastic vehicle to educate and train young people.

“They will provide real employment and education opportunities, as well as driving entrepreneurship, by offering our apprentices and students the chance to establish and grow a business and learn the skills needed to succeed and gain valuable experience working alongside our commercial partners.

“We are passionate and committed to creating an entrepreneurial culture in our college and are striving to become the leading FE College in enterprise.”

The main aim of the learning companies is to achieve growth that will allow the employed apprentices to progress on to advanced or higher apprenticeships or in to permanent employment.