Steyning students ‘wrap up’ awards

Following judges deliberations, the winners were announced and Steyning Grammar School Company ‘Prism Audio’ won ‘Best product/service’ for their Bluetooth speaker and ‘Wrapped Up’ won Best Presentation, Best Customer Service and Best Overall Company.

As part of the prize money ‘Wrapped-Up’ received a cheque for £100 to go towards further expansion of their company.

James Hansford, Managing Director of ‘Wrapped-Up’ said “We are delighted to have won the Overall Best Company Award. We believe our product celebrates the fantastic variety of local fare in our region. We have learnt so many skills whilst taking part in this scheme from negotiating with suppliers to managing our cash flow.”

Wrapped-Up was established by Steyning students in 2013 to provide baskets of food and drink items that are all made and produced in Sussex.

Sam Miles is the Managing Director of ‘Prism Audio’, a company selling Bluetooth prism speakers that have been designed by students and manufactured in China. Sam explained: “The students have dealt with a foreign manufacture from prototype through to manufacture. The system is a portable Bluetooth speaker which is useable remotely by most modern mobile phones, you can request any song held on your smart phone to be played instantly through the speaker.”

As part of the final both companies promoted their products on their trade stands and answered questions from the Young Enterprise judges. They also gave presentations to a packed audience of local business people and dignitaries.

Rachel Le Mare, Teacher of Business Studies and Travel & Tourism, Steyning Grammar School was full of praise for the students: “Steyning did brilliantly at the awards, both companies fought off tough competition from other local schools. We are very delighted that ‘Wrapped Up’ will now go through to represent the area at the Young Enterprise Sussex Final.”

Mr Nick Wergan, Headteacher, Steyning Grammar School said: “Both our Young Enterprise teams have shown fantastic entrepreneurship and business acumen – they have great products and business plans and will be forces to be reckoned with in the future. We believe passionately in the skills agenda at Steyning Grammar School and the students are superb ambassadors for this. “

Wrapped-Up went on to represent Sussex at The Young Enterprise Final at Ardingly and although they didn’t win, they did receive a ‘Highly Commended’ award for their company Branding.

Report and picture contributed by Steyning Grammar School