Young Enterprise Berkshire County Finals

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor and Patron of Berkshire Young Enterprise will be present to open the proceedings at Bearwood College. Judges will include: the Institute of Directors Berkshire County Chair Mr. Chris Dodson, Richard Reger of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (representing the ISCA) and Ross Wilson, Director of Business Services and Thames Valley Chairman at Tenon Associates.

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor said: “Young Enterprise is one of the most powerful and exciting things a student can get involved with at school if they want to be an effective entrepreneur or part of a dynamic business in the future. I’d certainly consider hiring anyone who has experience with Young Enterprise at school.”

Company Programme Manager for Young Enterprise Berkshire Jenny Scully said: “This is a unique opportunity for young people to develop a real practical understanding of what business is about, and also learn about themselves, gain hands on communication, leadership, motivation and problem solving skills. The standard of the finals presentations so far has amazed professional audiences; it’s really great to see the students’ passion and energies as they present their businesses. We look forward to an excellent county final.”

Nick James, Reading entrepreneur and proud supporter of Young Enterprise said: “Each year the students raise the game in both their presentations and products. The work they do with Young Enterprise proves that Berkshire is the true home to entrepreneurs of all ages.”

Berkshire Young Enterprise is divided into five key regions (Ascot, Bracknell & Wokingham/ Newbury/ Reading/ Slough/ Windsor & Maidenhead), each of which hold their own local finals.

The winners from each final progress through to the Berkshire County Finals, supported by Honda Europe. One lucky winner is selected on the night to represent Berkshire at the prestigious South East Regional Finals to be held in Horsham, Surrey on 18th June, and then onwards culminating at a national three day finals event in a London hotel in July and then the European finals later this summer.

Information on areas/ Young Enterprise teams appearing in the finals:

Ascot, Bracknell & Wokingham

• Regional finals held at The Holt School in Wokingham on 23rd April
• Judges included Roger Williams of Wilkins Kennedy, Mary Flavelle, and Tracey Ward of Apollo Martial Arts Clubs
• From the original 13 schools taking part in Young Enterprise, three finalists entered the regional competition: Bearwood College, (Wokingham) St. George’s School (Ascot), and The Marist Senior School (Sunningdale)
• WINNER: E-Unit from Bearwood College won with their environmentally and ethically conscious cotton alternative to plastic bags

Windsor & Maidenhead

• Regional finals held at the Holt School at Wokingham (in a joint ceremony with Ascot, Bracknell & Wokingham) on 23rd April
• Judges included Roger Williams of Wilkins Kennedy, Mary Flavelle, and Tracey Ward of Apollo Martial Arts Clubs (as above)
• Of an initial 11 companies two student companies entered the finals: ‘Scarface’ from Eton College, and ‘Rave’ from Charters School
• WINNER: The winners, Scarface were unable to accept the invitation to go forward (due to exam commitments) and so the award has now passed to R.A.V.E. of Charters School (Ascot) whose products included screen and custom printed t shirts aimed a the teenage school and social market

Newbury

• Regional finals held at the Newbury Rugby club on 29th April
• Judges included Mike Farwell of James Cowper Accountants, Steve Doulton of Azzurri Communications and Mike Rogers of Vodafone
• Seven of the nine participating companies reached the finals
• Both the winner and runners up were teams from Downe House School, (Coldash) and both are invited to participate in the county finals
• WINNERS:
• In first place was Slumberjacks whose product was personalised imported pyjama bottoms and t-shirts, aimed at the school and local community markets
• Also progressing to the finals is Magpie, whose products included covered pin-boards in vibrant designs and earrings.

Reading

• Regional finals held at the Reading Town Hall, 19th March
• Judges included: Anna Farrell, HR Director for ING Direct, and local businessmen Geoff Poland and Chris Pengilly
• 21 student companies took part in total, eight made it through to the finals
• WINNERS: 
• Infusion (Reading Blue Coat School) selected as the overall winner – their main product is a range of greeting cards printed from original paintings of local reading bridges
• Shotgun (The Abbey School) also selected in second place to progress to the Berkshire County Finals – they had two arms to their business, pyjamas and social event organizing in the school.

Slough

• Regional finals held at Hershall Grammar School on 27th March
• Judges included Colin May of HSBC, Jane Comber of Barclays Bank PLC, and  Cllr David Munkley, Slough’s commissioner for education and children’s services
• Of 14 student teams/ companies which took part, seven teams made it through to the finals
• Clik from Hershall Grammar School won with a variety of innovative key rings in a range of designs and colours tailored to events throughout the year (one of their products was a broken heart key ring, allowing two people to each own a half)

Awards to be presented on the night:

• Best Presentation 2008
• County Finalists Award
• ICSA Award for Corporate Governance 2008
• I.o.D Award for Innovation 2008
• Young Enterprise Berkshire Runners Up 2008
• Honda Berkshire Winners Cup 2008