The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York

The 2011 Enterprise Awards:

Students Survive the Griffins' Nest!

  

The winning team from All Saints' School York with the 'Griffins': Governor Richard Haynes, Deputy Governor Nick Nightingale and Merchant Adventurer, Maureen Loffill 

 

Venturefest Yorkshire, Wednesday 16th February 2011, York Racecourse

 

Students from York and North Yorkshire schools and colleges have taken part in the innovative and inspiring Griffins' Nest competition which is part of the Enterprise Inspirations section at Venturefest. This one day event showcases the region's finest science, technology and knowledge entrepreneurs and was held at York Racecourse on Wednesday 16th February. Enterprise Inspirations is organised by NYBEP - the business and education partnership for York and North Yorkshire - and involves primary, secondary schools and colleges from across the region.

One element of Enterprise Inspirations which is always an exciting focus of interest is the climax of the 'Griffins' Nest' competition, sponsored by the York Merchant Adventurers. The Company's partner NYBEP (North Yorkshire Business and Enterprise Council) organised the event with Dr Alan Suggett on behalf of the Merchant Adventurers.  

Competing teams of Key Stage 4 and Post-16 students were tasked with coming up with a product or service that would benefit their local community, and the project required the successful teams to consider many facets of starting a business, including the size of the market opportunity, the product design and finance. They were competing to win one of three prizes of £500 donated by the Company.

The judging was difficult this year and it took the judges some effort to choose the winners. The Year 9 group winners were Rossett School, Harrogate who had developed a well organised project helping local older people develop basic computer skills. The new Post-16 category award was given to a group of 6th Form students from All Saint's School, York who produced a healthy energy drink named 'Go!'. The judges were particularly impressed with the market research which was conducted in a number of local fitness centres. The Innovation Prize was awarded to 'First Scene' a team from York College for their ingenious ideas of see-through toasters and electric kettles which turned red as they heated up.     

Throughout its history the Company has encourage entrepreneurial activity and this event is part of the latest chapter in that story, a concerted effort to encourage enterprise education in the York area. The Deputy Governor, Nick Nightingale, explained, "The Adventurers believe competition between budding young entrepreneurs will be rewarded in the future by great entrepreneurial iniatives - which is just what our economy needs!"

"Supporting the Enterprise Inspiration section at Venturefest, and particularly the Griffins' Nest competition represents an effective way for the Company to help a significant number of young people to experience enterprise activities, and by doing so helping to inspire a future generation of Merchant Adventurers."

 

Venturefest Yorkshire celebrates science, technology and innovation across the north of England and next takes place on 8th February 2012 

For more information, please visit www.venturefestyorkshire.net