By Emma Jhita, the new chief executive at Didcot Railway Centre.

AS the summer holidays approach, we have been privileged to be part of an innovative work placement programme for students from Didcot Sixth Form.

With funding secured through Oxfordshire Community Foundation, the MAD or Make A Difference scheme gives A-Level students the opportunity to work with a local charity or not-for-profit organisation to gain experience of this exciting, and very varied, sector.

We hosted seven students for one week and set them the task of designing and creating a ‘pop-up-shop’ as a way of taking the heritage rail experience out into Didcot town and also providing a taster of what local families can experience.

Through a busy week of introductions to museum retail, running an environmentally friendly shop, the charming role of vintage in contemporary retail and even an exciting introduction to Didcot’s newest business the Space Store, the students arrived at some brilliantly innovative ideas.

One of the big questions they explored was around the precise role a shop needs to fulfil for its customers.

In addition to offering quality and useful products for sale, a ‘pop-up-shop’ for Didcot Railway Centre would also need to help effectively market the centre, perhaps promote volunteering opportunities, champion environmental best practice and include an interactive element.

As an extension of the centre, perhaps it should also be an extension of the visitor experience and even act as an introduction to what visitors can expect from their first visit?

It was a truly amazing week watching how the Sixth Form students fully immersed themselves in the centre’s culture, ethos, aims and ambitions, whilst bringing exciting fresh thinking to what could be achieved through a pop-up-shop.

The work delivered as part of the MAD programme has provided a real boost to future plans for a pop-up Didcot Railway Centre shop in the town but we don’t want to wait too long to realise some of the imaginative and exciting ideas from the week.

We’re always working to improve our visitor experience, which includes our onsite shop, so don’t wait for our shop to arrive in the town but make time for a local day out over the holidays and join us to discover everything Didcot Railway Centre has to offer.

Visitors of all ages can explore the 25 acres of industrial heritage and green spaces right at the heart of Didcot, discover exciting stories of invention and innovation and enjoy a unique day out closer to home.