Young Enterprise Innovation Awards 2014

Young Enterprise Students from Team Tidal at Newquay Tretherras School have scooped the coveted top prize of ‘Best Company” sponsored by Truro & Penwith College and the ‘Most Innovative Product’, sponsored by Cornwall Innovation, with their ‘Lazy Gardener’ products, at the 2014 Young Enterprise Cornwall Innovation Awards. The students will now go on to represent Cornwall at the South West Regional Finals on the 16^th June in Swindon. The team have also been invited to attend the Cornwall Business Awards at St Mellion on Thursday 15^th May.

Anthony Lawrence, Link Teacher from Newquay Tretherras commented “The students have done fantastically well and have made both myself and the school very proud! Throughout the year they’ve worked exceptionally hard, often remaining in school well beyond closing time to prepare for their various events. They’ve demonstrated their commitment to the business and willingness to learn all aspects of the business environment and I’m pleased that their hard work, effort and dedication has been rewarded in such a way!”

The Awards took place on Thursday 8^th May at the Atlantic Hotel, Newquay with 8 teams from Cornwall College, Richard Lander School, Fowey Community College, Treviglas Community College and Newquay Tretherras. Over 100 businesses attended this prestigious event and the feedback has been overwhelming with many businesses wanting to support this great charity. The event was hosted by Daphne Skinnard, Deputy Editor of BBC Radio Cornwall. Daphne commented “Congratulations to all the teams that took part, they showed an energetic and inspirational approach to the Young Enterprise programme. This ceremony was a good way to recognise their achievements.”

Judges from the local business community included Ian Taylor from Coodes, Richard Scutt, Manager at Pool Innovation Centre, Sarah Trethowan from TRAC Services, Gary Langan from Lloyds Bank Commercial, Allison Burton from Pirate FM and Bernadette Snow from Asda. They were looking for eye-catching stall displays, as well as marketing, the quality of products and innovation, financial handling and customer service. Ian Taylor of Coodes, Chair of the Judging Panel commented “This year we have seen an exceptional standard of entries from all of the Companies in the programme. Trying to decide on the winning team was a really difficult task!. We have been impressed with the professionalism and commitment shown by the students and their link teachers and business advisors who have helped them to create such innovative products and prepare amazingly confident and polished presentations.”

‘Cornish Collections’ from Treviglas Community College won the ‘Student Choice’ Award sponsored by Coodes, ‘Best Presentation’ sponsored by Cornwall Development Company and ‘Runner up’ for Best Company, sponsored by Cornwall Chamber.

‘The Company’ from Richard Lander School won the ‘Entrepreneurship’ Award, sponsored by TRAC Services.

Fowey Community College teams were also amongst the winners, with ‘Eventus’ winning ‘Best Company Report’ sponsored by Nat West Bank and ‘Incepto’ winning ‘Best Trade Stand’ sponsored by Cornwall College.

The event was organised by Young Enterprise, a charity which focuses on offering school and college students the opportunity to experience the real world of business and enterprise.

The teams were part of Young Enterprise’s flagship Company Programme, which sees students set up and run real businesses with the support of business mentors. Young Enterprise is the largest enterprise education charity in the UK and this year 26,000 students took part in the Company and Team Programmes. In the process they set up more than 2,000 companies between them that have altogether turned over an estimated £2 million.

We are always looking for more schools to get involved with Young Enterprise and we need volunteers from the business community to act as Business Advisers and Mentors.

Please email clare.harris@y-e.org.uk if you would like to be part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme starting in September or if you would like any further information on how you can support this great charity.