By Monica Chard
The Spelthorne Business Competi-tion, brain child of Business Secre-tary and Spelthorne MP Kwasi Kwarteng, is in it’s 7th year. We gathered at the BP learning centre in late September to hear the Drag-on Den style pitches from 6 final-ists, made to a panel of local busi-ness leaders. Once more, the stand-ard of business ideas was outstand-ing and we were told that there was not much between the finalists after their pitches had been heard and their business plans considered.
It was interesting this year to note that half of the final 6 concepts, embraced ideas to support children or youngsters. First up was the team from Brooklands College who are looking at launching a Linked In type platform specifically for the 18-24 year old market. This group is experiencing unprecedented unemploy-ment, even amongst university graduates. It is tough out there. The group, working under men-tors, felt that a new platform run by the young, for the young, speaking their language and understand-ing their problems, was the way forward. I Choose Local links the local job market with local young-sters, one up on the Job Centre.
Liza Veta was up next with her range of body products using essential oils, with plans to integrate CBD in the future too.
Magic Elephant’s Shannon McBride made a heart-felt but nervous presentation on her concept to offer emotional support to teenagers and young adults. Her wellness offering sprung from her own recovery journey tackling mental health. She par-ticularly wants to offer the concept to low income families who may miss out on more expensive support.
The tempo rose with Darren Clarke taking the stage to the line from Big Yellow Taxi “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”. (The aerial view of part of Staines to highlight his point was perhaps not appreciated by some of the coun-cillors present!). His company, Capability Clarke, which advertises in Sunbury Matters, has embraced the concept of regreening our environment, plant-ing for biodiversity and turning the tide on paved driveways and front gardens. His objective is to create spaces which engender happiness, where one can hear birdsong and insects buzzing. We need it more than ever.
Partnership Encore presented us with their idea of creating digital memory boards for family funerals, allowing for the posting of stories, photos etc in a digital memory box to preserve and honour the memory of a loved one.
And finally came Cat Hayes with her cooking school for children. Totally Tangerine Cookery offers the chance to learn to cook, understand nu-trition and empower youngsters in the tools of the kitchen. Her face to face and online classes have proved popular with primary schools and even nurseries. Why not get kids in the kitchen, under-standing how better to feed themselves, (at the same time as getting them off dreaded screentime). Apparently 1.5m parents admit never to having cooked with their children.
At stake was a £3,500 prize fund but more importantly access to mentoring and support from experts to take an idea to the next level.
After due consideration first prize went to Magic Elephant. Totally Tangerine Cookery came in second and Liza Veta came third.
Congratulations to all the finalists who did a great job. It is nerve wracking to stand up and present to a room full, not to mention a panel of dragons. It was a very inspiring evening.