LEO Gives Young Entrepreneurs
A Bite of the Big Apple
The glamour of the Oscars came to Mansfield last week, as 12 local schools’ most enterprising students gathered in front of a packed house to discover which team had won an all-expenses paid trip to New York courtesy of LEO’s Enterprise Academy Project.
The Oscars-themed event was held at Mansfield’s Civic Centre on November 18, as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week. Funded by local business advice agency, LEO and delivered by ‘no limits education’, the evening proved a glittering climax to the exciting project involving students from schools in Ashfield, Bolsover and Mansfield.
The finalists had earned their places via a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event held in October, which involved 22 teams of Year 10 students, from across the region, going head-to-head with their business ideas. Each idea, developed over several months, was presented in a pitch to local business owners, school governors and politicians, including Mansfield’s Mayor Tony Egginton. The pitches showcased the students’ ideas and work including television adverts, radio jingles and business plans.
Ashfield School’s winning team celebrates the success of the Snazzy Snacker with LEO Board Members Paul Davies and David Spencer, Tony Egginton, Cllr Kate Allsop, Cllr Alan Tomlinson, Youth Mayor Leah Wright, Deputy Youth Mayor Andrew Holloway and Jeremy Southgate and Beverly Burton from ‘no limits’.
The judges initially selected one winner from each district, with an additional 25 awards across the schools for categories including 'Most Viable Business Idea', 'Most Creative Idea', 'Best TV Advert' and 'Most Resourceful Team'.
The winning 'Dragons Den' teams each received a £100 grant to help them to take their business idea forward. The winning district teams won a trip to Alton Towers and the overall winning team won the prized trip to New York - which will include a visit to Reuters, The Bank of New York, a baseball game and other fun activities whilst in the Big Apple.
Muncheez winning team from Kirkby College receive their Award and cheque from John Hudson, LEO Programme Director.
Following months of intense developmental work, the entrepreneurs at Ashfield School emerged triumphant with their tasty new product idea - Snazzy Snacks.
“Great Kids, great event, great organisation!” concluded Tony Egginton, Mansfield’s Mayor as he handed over the Oscar to the over-all winners.
The top two teams from each of the schools also went on to district events where they worked with LEO Business Coaches and the ‘no limits education’ team to improve their business and presentation skills.
Ashfield School’s winning team celebrates the success of the Snazzy Snacker with LEO Board Members Paul Davies and David Spencer, Tony Egginton, Cllr Kate Allsop, Cllr Alan Tomlinson, Youth Mayor Leah Wright, Deputy Youth Mayor Andrew Holloway and Jeremy Southgate and Beverly Burton from ‘no limits’.
