Students from Ryde Academy’s Sixth 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 have 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.
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, what each department entails and potentially any employment opportunities.
2 teams from schools and colleges on the Isle of Wight competed for prizes. The winning team, Deja Brew Ryde Academy, will go on to represent the Isle of Wight at the Hampshire Final at Ordnance Survey HQ near Southampton on 15th May.
Deja Brew created an excellent brand, marketing pre-roasted Island coffee and 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!”
The companies were judged by Jamie Busby of Hose Rhodes and Dickson, Sue Edwards, Hannah Lissester of Glanvilles and Matt Jeffery of Brightbulb Design.
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 present their innovative ideas. They demonstrated excellent business acumen”.