The two Year 13 BTEC Business classes were hosted this week by Sponge to learn about their Marketing and Production functions.

Each trip was hosted by Mark Joll, (Director and OG c & T 1982 – 91) and Sponge’s Marketing Director, Natalie Douglas.

After a brief history of the company, Mark and Natalie outlined their Marketing aims after talking through their SWOT analysis and the 4P’s.

The pupils will be sitting their external Marketing exam early next year. The visit was particularly appreciated as it covered, in an applied manner, much of what the pupils will need in the exam, to devise a Marketing plan based on a case study that is pre-released the day before the examination.

The pupils unanimously agreed that the visit was extremely helpful and were amazed by the state-of-the-art production facilities at the Sponge factory in Holt. They were able to see the processes involved for cakes and the new brownies being manufactured, right through to the final packing and dispatch from the factory by post. Pupils certainly worked up an appetite during the tour and were particularly delighted with the box of delicious, fresh brownies they each received, in a customised Gresham’s box!

Our thanks go to all the staff at Sponge who were all so welcoming, and in particular to Mark and Natalie for giving their time to provide the students with such a valuable visit.