Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 41 | Page 12

12 | Aycliffe Today Business
BRIGHT
SPARKS
J
ewellery made from Durham Cathedral
stone, a kinetic phone charger, an
armrest for breastfeeding mothers and
a mobile science table for schools in less
developed countries were just some of the
innovative products young people taking part
in a flagship entrepreneur competition came
up with.
Winners of this year’s Future Business
Magnates (FBM) competition, run
by Business Durham, the economic
development arm of Durham County Council,
were announced at an evening reception at
Newton Aycliffe’s Xcel Centre.
More than 15 school teams from across
County Durham had entered the competition,
with this year’s challenge – Made in County
Durham, Sold to the World – focusing on
exporting.
The overall winners were St Leonard’s
Catholic School in Durham for their business
idea to make jewellery from Durham
Cathedral stone.
Judges felt that the product had a
great fit with the competition theme and
were impressed by the team’s excellent
presentation of their business idea.
Second place went to Park View School,
Chester le Street, for their bracelet and
necklace designed to help address social
Little gems win
entrepreneur competition
with jewellery idea
isolation and third place was awarded to
Durham High School Girls for their History in
the Making gift kits themed around Durham’s
history.
Influential names from the business
world, including Bignall Group, Ebac,
Hydram, Waterstons, CA Group, Robertson
Construction, Roman, Franks the Flooring
Store and Zumtobel Group had partnered the
teams to provide mentoring and support.
“It’s so fantastic to see
year after year our young
people coming up with really
innovative ideas and taking
them all the way through to
a developed business plan.”
Jake Newport from Finnmark Sauna spoke
to the pupils at the awards dinner about his
enterprise journey.
Jake is a former Durham University
student who took part in the University’s
Blueprint competition before setting up his
luxury sauna business in County Durham.
Chris Hind, head of business studies at St
Leonard’s Catholic School. said: “It’s a great
competition, I love it.
“We see the confidence of the
pupils develop over the course of the
programme. They gain many skills
including communications, team work
and presentation skills as well as all round
business knowledge.
“Importantly they also enjoy the
programme and it keeps them interested
over the year.”
Sarah Slaven, operations director for
Business Durham, said: “It’s so fantastic to
see year after year our young people coming
up with really innovative ideas and taking
them all the way through to a developed
business plan.
“The teams have really had to broaden
their horizons this year and look to County
Durham for their inspiration and products,
and then the world for their markets. We’re
grateful to all the businesses which get
involved to help the teams on their journeys.”
Cllr Katie Corrigan, chairman of Durham
County Council, said: “Each year the talent
and creativity of the young people in County
Durham shown during the Future Business
Magnates scheme is incredibly impressive.
It was an honour to attend the awards
ceremony and see the innovative ideas first-
hand. Well done to all the schools involved.”