Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal meets student entrepreneurs at University of Salford Business School
On Wednesday 10 May, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal joined student entrepreneurs at the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final, hosted by the University of Salford Business School, at its Peel Park Campus.
During her visit, The Princess Royal met with the next generation of pioneering business leaders who are creating ground-breaking concepts that will be instrumental in supporting the UK’s goal of becoming a global hub for innovation.
At the Institution where her father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the first Chancellor, she was joined by students from across the UK, including the University of Salford Business School’s Young Enterprise UK Start-Up finalists, Thalia Guest, Oliver Scragg and Samuel Ball, the Founders of Making Sense, which provides sensory toys for adults with disabilities. The Princess Royal also met University colleagues and industry partners, the team from Young Enterprise, as well as the Civic Mayor of Salford, Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins JP LLB, and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mary-Liz Walker.
The event, which coincides the 60th anniversary of Young Enterprise, saw Loughborough College’s students crowned UK winners with their business Tiaki, a sports protection business that aims to address the lack of protective equipment available for female athletes. The team will now progress to the European Start-Up final in Istanbul, Turkey in July for the final stage of the competition which has seen in excess of 300,000 students from across the continent compete.
Hosting the prestigious awards ceremony was Young Enterprise Trustee and alumna, Mina Karshala, who was joined by the national financial and enterprise education charity’s Chair of Trustees, Simon Lewis OBE, Dean of Salford Business School, Professor Janice Allan, and guest speaker, Founder of One File, Susanna Lawson.
Dr Jonathan Owens, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Young Enterprise lead at Salford Business School, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to host the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final, especially as this year’s event comes in tandem with the charity’s 60th anniversary. Salford Business School is very much a new arrival to the Start-Up programme. However, our students have proven to be trailblazers, being crowned European champions for 2022 and making it all the way to the UK final for 2023.
“The attendance of The Princess Royal, just days after King Charles III’s Coronation, is an amazing student experience and a great opportunity for our students to be part of a pivotal moment in the country’s history.”
Alongside the team from Salford Business School, the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final saw 13 student teams compete from the likes of Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Hertfordshire, Edge Hill University, and University Centre, Blackburn, with a diverse mix of businesses including everything from marketing and a fancy dress retailer, to multiple tech businesses comprising HealthTech and wearables for pet safety.
Sharon Davies, CEO of Young Enterprise, added: “Having The Princess Royal here today at the University of Salford Business School where her father, Prince Phillip, was the first Chancellor, provides an incredible opportunity during our 60th anniversary for young people to share their experiences of setting up their Young Enterprise business. The students have also been given a valuable opportunity to really demonstrate the skills and enterprising mindset they’ve developed on their journey.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “I am proud that the University of Salford Business School is hosting the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final and I would like to wish the best of luck to all those taking part. The University plays a vital role in encouraging innovation and developing young entrepreneurs and organisations, and the community of Salford benefits hugely from the skills that students learn.
“I am delighted to hear that Thalia Guest, Oliver Scragg and Samuel Ball from the University of Salford are in the final, helping to empower adults with disabilities, tackle stigma and raise awareness of Angelman Syndrome and conditions of this nature.
“I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on her visit to the city, which is helping to put a positive days spotlight on the finals just days after the Coronation of King Charles III.”
Young Enterprise were delighted to welcome over 100 guests to an event at Grosvenor’s Eaton Estate near Chester.
Young people from seven schools across Cheshire and Warrington competed for awards as part of their Young Enterprise Company Programme experience, with two teams selected to progress to the Northwest Final in May.
Company Programme is Young Enterprise’s flagship entrepreneurship programme, through which teams of young people set up and run a real-life trading business over the course of an academic year.
Combining this event with Young Enterprise’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the charity was pleased to welcome supporters and guests from diverse organisations to help recognise the young people’s achievements and celebrate their success.
Alick Salomon, the grandson of the founder of the charity, Sir Walter Salomon, welcomed attendees at the start of the event Alick noted how his grandfather founded Young Enterprise in 1962, inspired by the Junior Achievement Programme in the USA, which aimed to foster work readiness, entrepreneurship & financial literacy skills. Alick observed that his grandfather probably never imagined how the charity would evolve over the next 60 years, making a direct and meaningful impact for over 7.2 million young people in that time.
A panel of judges from the Westminster Foundation, Bentley, Encirc, Tata Chemicals Europe and Climbing Hut were responsible for assessing the teams and determining the winners of each award.
Encirc’s Sustainability Award was won by a team from Christleton High School, whose company ‘GlowIt’ recycled glass bottles into decorative ornaments, incorporating fairy lights for added glow.
Encirc also awarded the Runner-Up award to a team from Alderley Edge Girls School, whose company ‘My Little Lab Box’ created a box containing the components needed to create 13 experiments. This box linked each experiment to one of five female scientists and included an e-book about the lives of each woman, handwritten and illustrated by members of the team.
The Innovation Award, presented by Tata Chemicals Europe, was awarded to a team from Ellesmere Port Catholic High school. Their company, Gift a Mood, created bespoke gift boxes aimed to lift people’s moods and to mark events that would not normally be celebrated, such as divorce and failing a driving test.
The Teamwork Award, presented by Caroline da Cunha on behalf of the Westminster Foundation, was awarded to Iceberg Coffee, a team from Cheshire College South and West. Judges observed how this team had overcome a number of obstacles and pulled together to create a successful product.
Robbie, the Managing Director, commented: “Throughout Young Enterprise I have learnt resilience when working with the team, even when times got tough. I have also learned the value of teamwork with everyone giving great ideas while working together. Our ability to bounce back with our work, from changing the objective from pencil cases to coffee kits was impressive when we only had limited time left.”
The team from Abbey Gate College, Paws 2 Palm, whose business created dog leads from recycled climbing rope, picked up the Best Presentation and Marketing awards.
Ben Wilkins from Bentley, who presented the Marketing award, commented: “We were all really impressed by the professionalism of Paws 2 Palm, who created a truly unique and sustainable product, using resources that would otherwise go to landfill.” Paws 2 Palm were awarded Overall Winners for the Cheshire and Warrington Final, progressing with Runners Up award winners My Little Lab Box, to the next stage in the competition.
Concluding the event, YE’s CEO Sharon Davies commented: “We are truly grateful to the Westminster Foundation, not just for the opportunity to host our event here at Eaton Estate but also for our five- year partnership with this organisation and the sustained impact this enables us to make. It was a great privilege to be joined by Alick Salomon this evening as part of our 60th anniversary celebrations. His words truly brought to life how the skills of resilience, overcoming challenge and making the most of opportunities remain as important for young people today as they were for his family in the 1930s.
Salford Business School to host Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal confirmed to be in attendance
University of Salford Business School will host the Young Enterprise UK Start-Up Final 2023 at its Peel Park campus on 10 May 2023, with several high-profile guests including The Princess Royal, the Civic Mayor of Salford, Diane Hawkins JP LLB, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, and the High Sheriff in attendance.
The prestigious event, which recognises and rewards student entrepreneurs who are paving the way in innovation and pioneering business concepts, will see 15 student teams from across Britain compete for a place in the coveted European final in Istanbul, Turkey in July.
Amongst those competing will be second-year Salford Business School students, Thalia Guest, Oliver Scragg and Samuel Ball with their business, Making Sense, which provides sensory toys for adults with disabilities.
They will be up against teams from institutions across the UK, including UA92 (University Academy 92), University of Chester, University of Hertfordshire, Truro and Penwith College and University Centre, Blackburn.
This year’s Start-Up Final coincides with the 60th anniversary of Young Enterprise, a national financial and enterprise education charity that motivates young people to succeed in the changing world of work by equipping them with the work skills, knowledge and confidence they need.
During her visit, The Princess Royal will meet University students, stakeholders and partners at the
Institution where her father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the first Chancellor.
Gabi Round, Lecturer in Enterprise at Salford Business School, who works with Young Enterprise at the University alongside module leader, Dr Jonathan Owens, commented: “To have The Princess Royal and several other high-profile guests, including the Civic Mayor of Salford, join us for this important event is amazing and real credit to our fantastic students who are already making waves in the world of business.
“Our students won the top prize at the European final in Tallinn, Estonia last year and we have no doubt this year’s team, Making Sense, have a great chance of following in their footsteps. Our ethos here at Salford Business School really does embody empowering the ethical entrepreneurs of tomorrow and the success we’ve experienced with Young Enterprise really showcases that.”
The foundation for Making Sense is driven by an incredibly important cause which is close to the team’s heart. The inspiration for the business comes from 22-year-old, Renee, who is Thalia’s boyfriend’s sister and has Angelman Syndrome, a genetic condition affecting the nervous system which causes severe physical and learning disabilities. The business’ mission is to empower adults with disabilities, while removing any stigma by creating positive awareness of conditions of this nature.
Sharon Davies, CEO of Young Enterprise, added: “The Start-Up Programme is a fantastic way for university students of all backgrounds to apply their learning in a truly practical way through running their own business. We are incredibly grateful to the University of Salford Business School for hosting the UK final during our charity’s 60th anniversary year and for providing a platform for these amazing young people to showcase the talent, skills and mindsets they have developed throughout the programme. Congratulations to all this year’s Start-Up teams and best wishes to the finalists.”
In 2022, Salford Business School students, Jake Naylor, Jordan Hall and Arran McDonald, won for their biodegradable and affordable ear protection business, hearNprotect, beating competition from 375,000 students from 42 countries across Europe.
Those competing at the UK final will present their business idea to a panel of respected judges from the likes of The Marketing Trust, The Institute of Leadership and Management, the Institute of Export and International Trade and Avanade.
For more updates from Salford Business School, visit: www.salford.ac.uk/news.
Principality and Young Enterprise announce new three-year partnership to deliver bigger-than-ever business competition for primary schools in England and Wales
More primary school children than ever before across England and Wales are being given the chance to take part in an entrepreneurial challenge that will introduce money management skills from an early age.
Principality Building Society and Young Enterprise have teamed up to deliver the Fiver Challenge initiative for another three years.
The scheme invites students aged 5-11 years to create, research and plan a business with just £5.
Principality has sponsored and provided funding for the Fiver Challenge in Wales since 2020. It has now expanded its support for the scheme across England, allowing even more children the opportunity to develop their creativity, commercial awareness, and money management skills.
The challenge is accessible in Welsh and English with resources provided in both languages.
During the project, which starts in June, students will learn important skills for starting their own mini businesses, including designing a company logo, undertaking market research, and planning their product or service. They will then pitch their plan in a Dragon’s Den-style.
Students will also have the chance to win prizes by entering competitions for the best logo, sales pitch and overall project.
The new partnership was announced at an event at Principality’s head office in Cardiff last night. Attendees included last year’s winners of the Fiver Challenge, Seeder Wood from St. Andrews Primary School.
Vicky Wales, Chief Customer Officer at Principality said: ‘’We’re delighted to have teamed up with Young Enterprise to bring the Fiver Challenge to children and young people across Wales and England. We are passionate about helping young people to build their life skills, which includes supporting hard working schools with financial education and careers-based activities. Our commitment to this challenge over the next three years will mean we can continue to grow this project and partnership, and we can’t wait to see the results.’’
Teachers can sign up and access the resources for their school to take part on the Fiver Challenge website by visiting www.fiverchallenge.org.uk
Sharon Davies, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise, said: “The Fiver Challenge continues to provide young people with a brilliant opportunity to introduce and develop transferable skills that will remain with them for life. We are thrilled to be partnering with Principality for three years to offer this programme to young people across both Wales and England, helping to support the development of valuable life skills in a fun and engaging way.’’
Since 2020, Principality Building Society has worked with partners such as Young Enterprise to reach over 45,000 children and young people with financial education and careers-based learnings.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Young Enterprise, a national financial and enterprise education charity that motivates young people to succeed in the changing world of work by equipping them with the work skills, knowledge and confidence they need.
To find out more, visit www.principality.co.uk/fiverchallenge.