Young Enterprise

This week, six teams of young entrepreneurs took part in the County finals of the annual Lincolnshire and Rutland Young Enterprise Awards, held at RAF College, Cranwell.

The key feature of the programme is that teams form real companies that are out to make a profit. Proper financial records have to be maintained and there is a great emphasis  on teamwork, organisation and innovation.

Debbie Bestwick, Head of Volunteering, Young Enterprise, told me “students gain in confidence, presentational skills, leadership skills, team- building and general business knowledge. ”

Podcast: Debbie Bestwick

The teams reaching the final:

• Anamoly, representing Boston Grammar School, with their product the ‘My Vel-Pad’; a Velcro board with Velcro cards to create a fun alternative to the conventional whiteboard and pen. Podcast: Anomaly
• Bare Necessities, representing Caistor Grammar School, and their product the ‘Bare Necessities Camping Kit’; an all-in-one survival kit. Podcast: Bare Necessities
• Cliché, representing Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School, with their product the ’Handy Mat’; a mat allowing users to easily paint their finger nails without getting the polish everywhere.
• Eventus, representing Branston Community Academy, with their range of eco-friendly jewellery made from 100% recycled acrylic.
• Fresh, representing Spalding High School, and their range of soap cakes and candles set in vintage tea cups.     Podcast:Fresh
• Revive, representing Lincoln Minster, and their range of eco-friendly products. Podcast: Revive

On the day, the companies had to create a trade stall to explain, show and sell their products and nerves were certainly on edge for the evening presentations.

Each company had to present their products to the judges, potential investors, just like the TV programmes ‘Dragons Den’ and ‘The Apprentice’.

Reaction from the audience. Podcast: Audience

It was then up to the judges to make their decisions. Cliché picked up the award for Best Trade Stand and Best Presentation. Anomaly claimed the IOSH Award for Health and Safety, Eventus picked up the award for Best Company Report and Revive picked up the award for Innovation.

Amidst rapturous applause, the overall winner on the night, and the team that will progress to next month’s regional finals with their ‘handy mats’, was announced……….Cliché!

Nathan, Year 8, Carre’s Grammar, Sleaford