10 | Aycliffe Today Business
Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 11
King James I Academy in Bishop Auckland came
second in the FBM competition, supported by
Aycliffe firm Intumescent Fireprotection Service,
and were presented with their award by David
Land, Chair of County Durham Engineering &
Manufacturing Network.
THE WINNERS
• 1st: Durham Johnston School
(supported by Zumtobel Group)
• 2nd: King James I Academy
(Intumescent Fireprotection Service)
• 3rd: Ferryhill Business & Enterprise
College (Hydram Engineering)
• Most effective team: Consett
Academy (Dyer Engineering)
• Best prototype design: The Oaks
Secondary School (University for the
Third Age)
Durham Johnston School were
crowned winners of FBM for the
second consecutive year.
• Most effective use of networks:
St John’s Catholic School (South
Durham Enterprise Agency)
Manufacturing
inspiration fuels Future
Business Magnates
Young people take fun ‘selfies’
during the FBM awards ceremony.
• Best brand name and logo: Belmont
Community School (Waterston’s)
• Best environmental business: St
Bede’s Academy (Interline North
East)
• Most effective use of technology: St
Leonard’s Catholic School (Robertson
Construction)
• Best financial plan: Durham High
School for Girls (Blue Sky Think)
Pictures by Lee Dobson Photography
• Best presentation: Barnard Castle
School (Roman)
Students from Durham’s Framwellgate
School enjoy the FBM final event at the
Xcel Centre on Aycliffe Business Park.
The Xcel Centre on Aycliffe Business Park again provided the glittering backdrop for
Business Durham’s Future Business Magnates competition.
County Durham’s proud manufacturing
heritage inspired the brightest young minds
to make products for the 21st Century home
in the latest instalment of a popular schools
competition.
Talented young entrepreneurs from
Durham Johnston School were awarded the
accolade of Future Business Magnates 2016
for their product ‘Lock & Dock’, a wheelie bin
docking station, made under the guidance of
business partner Zumtobel Group.
Now in its 11th year, FBM – organised
by Business Durham, the economic
development company for County Durham
– has seen 20 schools from across County
Durham vying for the overall winner’s prize
and a host of other accolades.
Leading County Durham businesses
mentored pupils with their ideas and
supported them through the business
planning process, introducing the young
people to the excitement of running a
business as well as developing real work
skills.
Business Durham organises FBM
annually and used the area’s world class
manufacturing business base as the
inspiration for this year’s event.
The focal point for this year’s competition
has been Business Durham’s infographic,
‘The House that County Durham Built’,
highlighting the products that local
manufacturers make and how they influence
our everyday lives. Schoolchildren have
developed their own world beating products
for our homes.
Since November each team has been
working with their business partners and
using their science, engineering, technology
and maths skills to take a product idea from
concept to prototype.
Their designs have so impressed
competition judges that Business Durham
has created a new infographic ‘The House
that Future Business Magnates Built’ to
showcase the youngsters’ ideas on its
website and across its social media channels.
Simon Goon, Business Durham
Managing Director, said: “We never cease
to be amazed at the creativity and sheer
enthusiasm young people show in FBM.
“They have taken this year’s manufacturing
theme and run with it, using their creative
flair to make products that will save time and
energy in the modern home.
“The quality of the products is superb
– pupils drawing on the support of their
business mentors and really thinking hard
about how practical they will be around
the home and if people would buy and use
them.”
Several Aycliffe firms were involved in this
year’s competition, including Ebac, Roman,
Norfrost by Ebac, High Impact Development,
Formula Plastics and Gregg Little Testing
Centre.
And Trevor Forsyth, managing director of
Aycliffe-based Intumescent Fireprotection
Service, was involved for the third year
running, mentoring Bishop Auckland school
King James I Academy which finished
second overall with their product ‘Easi
Shred’, a plastic recycling shredding device
which fits to the top of a wheelie bin.
“I finished second a couple of years ago,
so I’m aiming to win it next year!” said
Trevor.
“I really value the importance of FBM, I
think it’s a massive platform for schools and
young people to investigate business and to
come up with an idea and a product.
“It’s not just about trying to win
the competition, it’s about coming up
with business ideas and sowing that
entrepreneurial seed in youngsters, but
there’s also a lot we can learn from them.
It has made me think of my business
differently and I enjoy the challenge.
“It’s great to see businesses of all shapes
and sizes involved and I would urge others
to get engaged with what we think is a really
inspiring and important programme.”
Ferryhill Business & Enterprise College
finished third overall, supported by Chilton
firm Hydram Engineering, while Aycliffebased shower manufactu rer Roman
mentored Barnard Castle School, which won
the award for best presentation.
A full list of the businesses who kindly
gave their invaluable time and expertise to
mentor schools in this year’s competition,
and how to get involved in FBM 2017, can
be found at www.businessdurham.co.uk/
fbmhouse
The house that
Future Business
Magnates built...
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St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre Pro Pen
Greenfield Community College Shildon Campus Desk 2016
Bishop Barrington School Carberry Innovations
Wellfield Community School SMART LEG
Framwellgate School Durham DemiCare Watch
Barnard Castle School AquaBlok
St Bede’s Catholic Academy E-Q-Shower
Consett Academy Seecurity
Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College TRACKAPET
North Durham Academy Safety Gate Pro
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St Leonard’s Catholic School Secur-a-Door
Dene Community School FaceSafe
Belmont Community School Wi-fire
Seaham School of Technology Lifeasy
Greenfield Community College Aycliffe Campus H.O.P.S
Woodham Academy Home Grown
Durham High School for Girls Rot8
The Oaks Secondary School Shuper Duper
Durham Johnston School LOCK & DOCK
King James I Academy Recycle Right - Easy Shred
FBM is an enterprise competition for schools in
County Durham, designed to introduce young
people to the world of business and enterprise.
Want to get involved?
For more information or to sign up:
Email us >fbm@durham.gov.uk
Call us > 03000 261 261
Visit > www.businessdurham.co.uk/fbmhouse
Tweet us > @_BusinessDurham #fbm
Business Durham is supported by: