Students from Ryde Academy 6th Form have been crowned Best Overall Company at the Young Enterprise Isle of Wight showcase Area Final.
The competition celebrated students who have set up and run a company over the academic year. Students made all the decisions about their business, from deciding the company name and product, to creating a business plan, managing their finances and selling their products.
The student companies competing in the South Hampshire Area Showcase Final were Tru Gifts from Cowes Enteprise College and Deja Brew from Ryde Academy.
The companies were judged by: Jamie Busby- Hose Rhodes and Dickson; Sue Edwards – Self employed; Hannah Lissester – Glanvilles Damant and Matt Jeffery – Brightbulb Design
The winning team Deja Brew, created an excellent brand, marketing pre-roasted Island coffee, supporting local growers and coffee farmers in Costa Rica through the sustainable sourcing. The team said that they were “thrilled to have won and to be going to the county finals!”
WightFibre have supported the schools that have taken part and offered workplace visits for the students to understand how the Cowes based internet company works.
Bracey Parish, Regional Manager of Young Enterprise in the South East, said: “I would like to congratulate all the students involved. It’s the ultimate measure of many months of hard work, representing their creativity, resilience and business acumen – I wish the top two teams the best of luck for the next round and beyond.
Rueben Loake, long term YE volunteer said: “ It was a really inspiring – the enthusiasm and dedication of all the teams was infectious. They are truly amazing young people and will have demonstrated to the judges just what a small group of teenagers can achieve. Good luck to the team for the County Finals, I will be there cheering them on! It is a privilege to be involved with YE”.
All the judges said how much fun it was to be involved and Zoe Stroud Marketing Director of the WightFibre said “It was really inspiring to see each team present their innovative ideas. They demonstrated excellent business acumen”.
About Young Enterprise
- Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading enterprise and financial education charity that empowers young people to harness their personal and business skills
- Every year we work directly with over 250,000 young people, and train 3,200 teachers in both enterprise and financial education, with the help of more than 6,000 volunteers and 3,500 businesses
- We believe that the potential of the UK’s young people is unlimited, and an academic education on its own is not enough. Our mission is to empower young people to discover, develop and celebrate their skills and potential
- Through our hands-on employability and financial education programmes and resources and teacher training, we want to eradicate youth unemployment, help young people realise their potential beyond education and empower a generation to learn, to work and to live
- Founded in 1962, we are part of global network JA-YE operating in 120 countries
