Budding business stars scoop awards

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Category: News

Published on Friday, 04 May 2012 09:17

Written by Julie Baldwin

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Enterprising group impresses judges at event 
Lutterworth Mail 12^th April 2012
                                                                            
A team of budding young businessmen and women from Lutterworth College scooped a trio of top prizes in a young enterprise competition. The team of Year 12 students, aged between 16 and 17, faced competition from groups based at other schools across the county in the event – which challenged them to come up with an original product or service to market and sell. The 16-strong group, which is called Iconic, came up with an idea to create a device which keeps earphones – used with mobile phones or music players – tidy so they do not become damaged or tangled. After presenting their idea to a group of company directors at the Holiday Inn in Leicester, the team took home three awards, one for their presentation, another for their company report and the final award was for placing in the top three young enterprise businesses in west-Leicestershire – which has earned them a place in the forthcoming county finals. Richard Davies, chosen as Iconic’s MD, said “We started the journey by running a Christmas-themed disco for primary school children which enabled us to raise the capital we needed. One of the most difficult things to do in setting up the business was actually deciding on the product or service to create. We identified the problem of earphones becoming tangled or damaged in a brainstorming session – so the ICONTIDY was created. It allowed the earphones to be neatly tucked away in your pocket when they are not being used.” The group sold 100 of the devices by using a trade stand at Leicester’s High Cross shopping centre in the run-up to their presentation. Loren said “Now we are trying to build and grow the business by looking for retailers for the product. Ace Connections in Lutterworth is the only retailer we have so far confirmed but we are looking for more. We have big plans for our business in the near future.”