Students from Alleynes High School won the Best Staffordshire Company award at last night’s Young Enterprise Staffordshire finals at JCB headquarters in Rocester.
The Versaleaf company produced a ‘Knot the Bag’ craft box based on the Japanese art of furoshiki for the competition, where material is knotted together to make various items. Each kit had an instruction card and DVD instructions. You may remember them from the trade fair held in Stone in March – there are lots of pictures here.
Versaleaf now go forward to represent Staffordshire at the regional final in Birmingham.
Commenting on the overall winners, the judges noted that the Versaleaf team really lived and breathed their company which was reflected in their high-quality and innovative product. The five teams representing the county had already fought off 55 other Young Enterprise teams.
Emily Ensor, Young Enterprise programme executive, said: “The 120 plus guests, including the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir James Hawley, were treated to an afternoon of high quality presentations.
“The competition was far more intense this year with each of the five finalists from across the county significantly raising the quality and content of their company presentations and trade stands for this event.”
Versaleaf also walked away with the Production Award sponsored by Johnsons Tiles and the Financial Management Award sponsored by HSBC.
And it wasn’t just the students winning awards last night. Tim Tweats from Alleynes was voted Staffordshire Link Teacher of the year.
The volunteer business advisers who have been working with Versaleaf since September were also recognised: Emma Tonge was named runner-up business adviser of the year and Andrew Glover, a former YE student and former Alleyne’s student, won the prestigious business adviser of the year award.
Young Enterprise is the leading company programme devised and operated in schools to give Years 10, 12 and 13 experience in setting up and running their own companies.
For more information or to get involved, contact Emily Ensor on Emily.ensor@yewm.org.uk or 079600 49372.
