Young business stars win Sussex’s Best Company of the Year award

A team of teenage entrepreneurs are celebrating after the business they set up in school was judged Sussex’s Company of the Year in a Young Enterprise business competition.

The ten Year 10 students from Millais School in Horshamscooped the top award at the Young Enterprise Sussex Company Awards at the Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre in East Grinstead on Wednesday 16th May.

Their company Hold It was set up as part of a Young Enterprise scheme which enables young people to set up and run their own businesses for a year.

The 15-16 year-olds created a successful business selling unique, personalised clothes hangers as well a range of colourful, handmade door stops. People pay to get a personalised message on a wooden hanger which can then be given as gifts.

The county final saw the top six companies from Bexhill, Brighton, Hurstpierpoint, Horsham, Crawley, Worthing and Chichester competing for the top award. Hold It also scooped the Best Presentation award.

The Best Company Runner up was Bishop Luffa School from Chichester with their company Vibe. Their company offered an eco-friendly car cleaning service, a waiter service and also produced and sold door stops and hangers.

The students from Hold It will now represent the county at the South East Regional Finals in Horsham on June 12.

Their teacher John Nicholson said:  

“The girls have been both innovative and successful as winners of the Best Sussex Young Enterprise Company.

“Their popular doorstops are totally made by them and their customised coat hangers are hand engraved by them.

“This is a company that focuses on quality products at affordable prices as their mission statement declares. They are certainly a company who have set their sights on winning the Regional Finals - so watch this space!”

One of the competition judges, Roy Rose, from the Institute of Directors, told the students:

“You are all winners here – you have won an area final to get here tonight and you have all showed great enthusiasm, professionalism and business knowledge.  You should be very proud.”

Wendy Gorham, Manager Young Enterprise in East Sussex said:

“It was a wonderful evening where young people showed their enthusiasm for creating a business.

“The competition showed that we have some wonderful entrepreneurs who are showing that they have the skills to succeed in an ever changing world.

“All of the companies were winners as they had won their local area finals to get to this stage in the competition and our business judges were amazed at their professionalism and creativity.  Well done to them all.”

The audience included the High Sheriff of East Sussex and the Mayor of East Grinstead. Real-life Dragon’s Den contestant John Pordum was the guest speaker and spoke about his appearance on the BBC show and the reality of running your own business.  John did Young Enterprise when he was at school so knows all about how the young people were feeling at the awards evening.

More than 650 15-19 year-olds  have taken part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme in Sussex this year, running 43 companies and supported by volunteers from the local business community. 

The students perform all of the functions of a normal business, including sales, marketing, finance, manufacturing and record keeping.   They set up a bank account, sell shares in their company and produce a set of accounts. When the business is closed at the end of the school year they have to pay V.A.T. and Corporation Tax on any profits. 

The scheme aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and prepare young people for the world of work. 

For interviews with the Hold It students please contact their teacher John Nicholson on 01403 254932.

Check out Hold It’s website at http://www.holdit.moonfruit.com/#

Photo: Hold It students celebrate their win at the Young Enterprise Sussex Awards.

For further information please contact Young Enterprise Press Officer Emma Pickles on 0207 549 1980 or 07713 393 594.