CANDI Students Visit Downing Street for Christmas Lights Event with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Students from City and Islington College join Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a Downing Street event to mark the start of the Christmas season.

A group of students from City and Islington College (CANDI) had the unique opportunity to visit Downing Street on 30 November to take part in an exclusive Christmas event with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Government Ministers.

During the festive celebration, The Prime Minister and his wife, Akshata Murty, led a countdown to turn on the Christmas lights outside Number 10 before visiting a Christmas market on Downing Street and speaking to guests. CANDI students joined military families, Points of Light award winners who have been commended for their charitable work and other business students as guests at the event. 

The Christmas market featured a range of British businesses showcasing their products and there was a wide variety of food and drink from UK businesses on offer. The London Community Gospel Choir and a military band provided musical entertainment.

Desmond Corlis, Head of School for Business and ICT at CANDI, said: “The No 10 event was very special for me and the students, who were privileged to be part of a truly memorable evening, where we were in the presence of the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, albeit for a short while. The reception received from the business vendors on show was exceptional, there was a wide array of different sole traders offering a variety of products and services ranging from bespoke key rings and homemade pies to organic gin.”

The CANDI students had the opportunity to speak to several business owners and gain valuable insight into product creation and the practicalities of running a small business.

Conor May, a Level 3 Business student, said: “Overall, the event we attended was very interesting and insightful, being related to business like our course is. At the event, we saw numerous small businesses, some of which were family-owned and some were recently created, and speaking to them to learn about their idea gave a unique perspective into their respective market and how they experienced attempting to launch a new idea. It has allowed me to further understand how businesses develop in numerous markets as well as identify the key selling points of their respective brands and products.”

Cumaali Telli, a Level 3 Business student, said: “The 10 Downing Street event was a great experience. The vibe set was joyful and welcoming. Meeting business owners and sampling their products was one of the best parts as we got to learn the overall process behind each product. This allowed me to further develop a deeper understanding of how businesses operate, along with what can create a successful product for consumers to enjoy.”

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