Barton Peveril Students Pitch their Business Ideas
Barton Peveril Sixth Form College hosted its inaugural, Dragon’s Den style competition ‘What’s the Big Idea?’ on Friday 3rd December 2021.
The competition gave the College’s entrepreneurial students the chance to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, for a chance to win a monetary prize and a mentorship opportunity.
Students competing in ‘What’s the Big idea?’ were those who had already set-up their own business or who had an idea for their own business but needed a financial kick-start to help their idea come to life.
Winners and Runners Up
There were winners and runners up across three categories: Product/Service (Concept); Product/Service (Development); An Idea for Social Good. The winners were Rowan Scott (formerly of Swanmore College) for his internet hosting and development solution Volt Hosting, Jake Taylor for his street clothing range Strive EP, and Nalah Stones (formerly of Crofton School) for her reusable period pad range.
The runners up were Will Maguire (formerly of Brookfield Community School) for his online music protecting concept Caracal Marketplace, Ashlee Beresmith (formerly of Thornden School) for her bath bomb shop Luxury Soak, and Molly Wilton (formerly of Swanmore College) for her stickers for spiking safety idea No Spikey No Likey.
The panel consisted of Mark Budd, Head of Innovation at Zurich Services, Katie Hounsham, B2B Ecommerce Executive at L’Oreal and owner of Clink & Drink Bars, Lea Hampton, Employment and Skills Manager at One Horton Heath, Eastleigh Borough Council, and Darren Everard, Owner of Latitude Recruitment Ltd.
The Business Mentors who will now be supporting the winners are Katie Hounsham, Paul Mason, Managing Director of Appui Management Ltd. and Business Mentor at Be the Business, and Michele Dance, owner of Ocean World Travel and Teddy Bears Online.
“So much energy and passion”
Speaking on the competition and its students, Lea Hampton, Employment and Skills Manager at One Horton Heath, Eastleigh Borough Council, said:
“Wow! So much energy and passion in the Lecture Theatre at Barton Peveril, so thrilled to be a Dragon hearing pitches from the 10 finalists. So many great ideas! I can’t wait to come back and hear more about the start up stories. Thanks for inviting me, loved every minute!”
