A national enterprise crown is up for grabs this week – and Loughborough College has not one but two businesses fighting for the 2017 title.
Kitless Simply Perfit and 3-Six Sports will be competing against eight fledgling businesses at the Young Enterprise Start-Up Company of the Year final - with Loughborough the only college lining up against Universities from across the UK.
This year’s showdown will challenge finalists to deliver a Dragon’s Den-style pitch onstage, together with an elevator pitch at a trade stand they have designed and created, backing up a detailed business plan.
Loughborough College degree students Harry Rudkin and Jonah Boyce’s 3-Six Sports aims to develop The Stud Master, a durable universal tool to efficiently and safely attach and remove sport boot studs.
Hanna D’Arcy and James Teagle’s Kitless Simply Perfit meanwhile have plans to manufacture and sell an innovative goal-keeping glove specific to female football players.
Hanna, 21, is studying for a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science with Management and has both played in goal for South Wales and coached for Newport County FC. “There are 25,000 registered female goalkeepers in the UK, 118,000 in Europe and 3.5m across the world yet only three gloves on the market – and all of them in the U.S. But with my experience and our research of the scientific studies into differences between male and female hands, plus having looked at the quality and fit of these products, it was clear we could make refinements in material and design to produce a far better product.
“I have really enjoyed this– even though it’s been demanding to do it alongside my final year studies. James and I have worked really hard and even if we don’t win, I feel so proud that what we have done has taken us to the national finals.
“I was super nervous about public speaking but the College has been brilliant about helping me with the pitch – and now I feel quite excited.”
James Teagle, 21, competes for Britain in triathlon and is also studying for a degree in Sport Science and Management. “It has been an intense process but great fun and it’s brilliant to develop this whole new skillset. Hanna and I really believe in the idea and know it could be amazing and a real success. We’ve put in so much work, we just have to see how it goes on the day. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Iqbal Ullah, who heads the Foundation Degree in Business Management at Loughborough College, added: “The businesses have been working in earnest with the marketing and design teams to develop their trade stand material and continue to work with Higher Education Employment Advisor Neelum Savania to practice their pitch and presentation. They have even invited fellow students to watch, critique, and provide feedback for further improvements.
“Both have been fantastic in their endeavour and effort whilst preparing for the final and I am confident we will provide stiff competition to other eight finalists.
“Whatever the outcome, they will gain so much from this experience, meet some fantastic people from the world of business and enterprise, and maybe even develop some contacts that will help them in their future.”
If you would like to show your support for the enterprise finalists, please like the pages via these links before the end of Tuesday 9 May 2017:
https://www.ye-marketplace.org.uk/Stores/3-SIX-SPORTS
https://www.ye-marketplace.org.uk/Stores/Kitless
The Young Enterprise Start-Up Company of the Year 2017 takes place in Liverpool on 10 May with Loughborough College competing against the University of Chester, the University of Surrey, Kingston University, Hull University, Manchester Met University, Northumbria University, the University of East Anglia and Liverpool John Moores University.
Pictured: (left to right) Loughborough College degree students Hanna Darcy, James Teagle (Kitless Simply Perfit) Jonah Boyce and Harry Rudkin (3-Six Sports) with (centre) Leicestershire Young Enterprise Manager Annabelle Ames.