Loughborough College has been honoured at the 2018 Young Enterprise Start-Up Programme national finals.
Degree students Lee Quinn and Mason Cashmore took the crown for best presentation with Capacity while Iqbal Ullah, who heads the Business Management foundation degree at the College, was presented with the Enterprise Ambassadors Award.
Loughborough College took the national title in 2017 with 3-Six Sports and went on to represent the UK in the European finals in Helsinki and with both Capacity and fellow student business In-Line selected for the 2018 show down, it was the fifth consecutive year the College had been represented in the national finals.
More than 200 companies were formed by students at universities and colleges across the UK over the past year as part of the competition before the final eleven teams were brought together at the Loughborough College-hosted event and welcomed by Vice Principal Debi Donnarumma.
Capacity and In-Line joined Kingston University London, Manchester Met University, Liverpool Hope University, Northumbria University, Edge Hill University, University of Bolton, West College Scotland, Grimsby Institute for Further and Higher Education and Truro and Penwith College for a range of challenges including pitches, interviews and the creation of an official trade stand.
Guests heard from former Loughborough College degree student and national finalist Mina Karshala and from Performing Arts students Gabriella Jephcott, Aimee Reed, Charlie Holling, Dumisani Mjojo and Charlie Potter with their band Phoenix before awards were announced, including for overall winners Truro and Penwith College.
Iqbal said being presented with the Ambassadors Award had been, “lovely. I would do this regardless because I love it – but it is nice to be recognised.”
Young Enterprise Manager Andrew Firr thanked Loughborough College for a “truly fantastic event… one we are hugely proud of.”
Iqbal added: “It was fantastic to welcome everyone to Loughborough College and highlight our entrepreneurship and innovation,” and he praised the winning teams and their dedication to the competition alongside the demands of their final degree year.
“Capacity took on every piece of feedback during months of preparation and went on to absolutely nail their presentation, deservedly winning the award while In-Line relentlessly pursued their idea to produce a highly professional performance in the final.
“But whether Capacity and In-Line won an award or not, they are winners. They are winners because of their attitude and approach, their professionalism, and their effort and endeavour. I am extremely proud of them, and they should be proud of what they have achieved in a very challenging year amongst all of their other commitments and priorities.
“The groups received wonderful feedback and it is no surprise that both have received significant offers of support.
“For all our degree students who develop businesses for this competition, the skills they acquire and connections they make offer an invaluable platform for their future careers.”
The innovative Capacity app enables users to check venues and services such as bars and restaurants, visitor attractions or car parks in advance to see how busy they are.
“The idea came from Lee’s experiences with his autistic daughter who struggles when facilities are crowded and gets anxious if the family gets delayed if, for example, they have difficulties finding parking,” said Mason, who is in the final year of his degree in Sports Science and Management with Loughborough College.
“We’ve already got businesses in Loughborough and Leicester signed on and there is so much potential for us to develop.
“Lee and I have both gained so many skills and so much experience through this process and it is opening so many doors. We’re incredibly grateful to the College for this opportunity.”
The team behind In-Line - Lianna Swan, Oliver Brache, Jack Stapley and Archie Macpherson, plan to help give golfers a high tech boost to improve their game.
After the final, Archie – whose brother Matt was a national finalist with College team Easy Fitness in 2016 - thanked Loughborough College: “We are all incredibly proud to have reached the national finals in the first place and it will no doubt benefit me on my CV so thank you for your support.
“I believe in our product and its potential! It would have been so great to have gone one step further than Matt with Young Enterprise but at least I can say I fell at the same hurdle - and look at how it benefited him in getting a job!”
Neelum Savania, Higher Education Lead Employment Advisor at Loughborough College said: “The entrepreneurial values we embed and the employability support we offer our students throughout their time with us is so significant as they move towards their desired careers.
“All our teams, including Capacity and In-Line, took full advantage of this for months ahead of the regional and national finals and worked extremely hard, perfecting their presentations and pitches and taking all the advice and guidance we gave them.
“Despite the calibre of competition this year, our two finalists impressed the judges, guests and audience. Capacity winning the award for best presentation was truly fantastic and I am delighted with the recognition both teams achieved. There’s no doubt the experience and contacts they’ve gained will see them excel as they move forward with their businesses.”
Pictured: Loughborough College students Lee Quinn and Mason Cashmore whose business Capacity was awarded Best Presentation at the 2018 Young Enterprise Start-Up Programme UK final