The Edge competition launched across Carshalton and Kingston Colleges in September 2012 with the aim to inspire young people to consider starting their own business and improve their employment prospects.
On Monday 20 May 2013, the 6 teams taking part in the competition presented their business plan and how this had developed since starting work on the business to a judging panel made up of 9 flagship employers including British Airways, Merlin Entertainment, Sainsbury’s, Sutton Housing Association, Successful Sutton, London Borough of Sutton, HSBC and Ignite Strategies.
Each of the teams displayed a variety of business concepts and different approaches to starting their business. The teams presented professional and sound business plans to the judges during the course of the afternoon.
Neel Bidessie from Carshalton College said, “All the teams have displayed a professional attitude and transformed educational concepts into sustainable business ideas and plans. We have been very impressed with the not only the business concepts but the efforts and determination that has gone into making these businesses get off the ground. All the employer judges commented on how impressed they were with the high standard of the entries.”
Following the team presentations the results were announced at the awards ceremony. The results were as follows:
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Best Presentation: Greenforce
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Best Product: DHL Hosting
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Best Team Participation: IT Works
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Overcoming Challenges: Brunettes
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Creative Sales and Marketing - T4F
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Outstanding Individual Winner - Capella
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Overall Team – Greenforce
All team members were awarded Chessington World of Adventure tickets and the Overall Team winner, Greenforce received an Ipad Mini.
In addition market stalls will be offered by the London Borough of Sutton to Greenforce and T4F to assist with the sales of their business. Sainsbury’s have also provided an opportunity for T4F to receive work experience at their media department for the Quarter 1 trading update.
Richard Strom, Managing Director, Ignite Strategies
“In this economic climate it is increasingly important to equip and prepare students for the world of work and help them find a competitive edge. The Edge competition, running across the two Colleges, provides a fantastic platform for students to obtain invaluable experience of creating and implementing sustainable business concepts. Ignite Strategies are delighted to be supporting Kingston and Carshalton Colleges Enterprise Schemes by providing business planning guidance and advice in Sales and Marketing strategies to students to help support their activities”.
Robert Noad, Business Specialist, HSBC
“It has been great to work with the students in providing them with specialist business planning, advice and guidance and I look forward to continuing the journey with the teams to ensure that their business ideas can be further developed into the world of work”.
For more information please contact:
E: marketing@carshalton.ac.uk
T: 020 8544 4558