The Place To Bee
Café and Old Fashioned Sweet Shop In The Heart Of Kingsthorpe
Weetabix Bronze Award Winning Community Cafe 2022 & 2023
The Place to Bee
The Place to Bee is a unique provision for young people aged 18–25 with Special Educational Needs (SEN). We offer a work-based placement focused on all aspects of retail, alongside practical life skills development as part of the Preparation for Adulthood curriculum.
Originally started by Northgate Academy and now proudly run by The Cube, The Place to Bee provides students with hands-on experience in a real business setting.
What We Offer
Workplace Skills: Health & Safety in the workplace, customer service, and food hygiene.
Accredited Qualifications: Opportunities to gain certificates in key areas.
Life Skills: Practical experiences to build independence and confidence.
Full Involvement: Students participate in every aspect of the business, developing lifelong skills to support future employment.
Student Journey
Students attend the provision 50 weeks of the year.
Before joining, each student is invited to a two-hour taster session. This trial includes an introduction to who we are, what we do, and whether retail is the right environment for them.
At The Place to Bee, we aim to provide meaningful experiences that empower students to grow, achieve, and prepare for life beyond education.
🍬 The Place to Bee – Old Fashioned & Retro Sweets
We sell a wide variety of old-fashioned and retro sweets, all lovingly made by our team of students. Every purchase supports their learning, development, and confidence.
⭐ Our Sweet Treats
Flying Saucer Cone – £1.50
Marshmallow Kebab – £1.00
Small Sweet Cones – £2.50
Large Sweet Cones – £3.50
Pick & Mix Bags – £1.50
Hot Chocolate Cones (seasonal) – £2.50
We also create custom sweets for special occasions such as baby showers and weddings. Prices are available on request.
💛 Community Partnerships
The Lewis Foundation
We are proud to work with The Lewis Foundation, a local charity in Northamptonshire.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, students from The Place to Bee work in the Lewis Foundation Outlet store at the Grosvenor Centre. Since July 2023, this partnership has given our students the chance to:
Work in a larger retail environment
Gain valuable customer service skills
Contribute to their local community
All items in the shop are donated by businesses and the public, and every penny raised funds gift packs for cancer patients. Our students love being part of this inspiring journey.
🍭 Sweet Concessions
Our sweet concessions are supported by many local businesses across Northamptonshire.
Students take responsibility for stocking and maintaining concessions, giving them hands-on retail experience.
👉 If you’d like to host a sweet concession in your business, we’d love to hear from you! We can supply a wide variety of sweets to suit your space.
📞 Get in Touch
For more information or to place an order, please contact us today.
