Previous winners
2011
1st prize: Christopher Gowans, Let's Go Mexicana
Chris won £5,000 in cash and IT consultancy support from Jessica Zeun Consulting to develop his mobile catering business, Let's Go Mexicana. The business trades at music festivals and other events, fusing the fast-growing markets of Mexican food and outdoor events. Chris is a recent business and enterprise management graduate.
2nd prize: Andrew Thomas and Scott Bradley, Rapid Sports
Andrew and Scott won £1,000 in cash and business support from Gripple Ltd to develop their company, Rapid Sports. The business will manufacture and market high-quality sporting products for canoeing and Gripple will support them through the process of setting up the business, help with optimising materials and offer general start-up guidance.
2010
1st prize: Nathan Bestwick, MILLME™
Nathan won £5,000 in cash, in addition to two years' free banking and support from the business relationship manager with NatWest. Nathan was also offered free assistance through Incub (Ideas and Innovation Incubator) by Gripple.
MILLME™ is a product innovation business that focuses specifically on designing inclusive kitchenware products. Nathan is an industrial design graduate.
2nd prize: Jessica Flinn, Jessica Flinn Designs
Jessica won £2,000 and a further £1,000 for the audience pitch runner-up prize, in addition to two years' free banking and support from the business relationship manager with NatWest. Jessica now has a workshop in the
Creative Arts Development Space set up by Steve Rimmer (a previous Placement Year Entrepreneurship Scheme student and Hatchery member).
The company designs and makes unique ranges of contemporary precious metal jewellery, sold direct to the customer as well as through galleries and other outlets. Jessica graduated in 2010 with a degree in metalwork and jewellery.
2009
1st prize: Andrew Asquith and Oliver Hemstock, Highball Climbing
Andy and Ollie won the top prize of £5,000 in cash, in addition to £1,000 of accountancy support from sponsors Hart Shaw and £1,000 of legal support from sponsors HLW Keeble Hawson. Highball has developed a series of freestanding home installation climbing walls that can be easily installed and relocated. The company also provides a bespoke wall design and build service. Oliver studied for a BSc (Honours) Architectural Technology.
2nd prize: Vanessa Linley, Petsox
Vanessa won £2,000 in cash and also won the audience vote at the Enterprise and Innovation Dinner, to scoop a further £1,000, in addition to £1,000 of accountancy support from sponsors Hart Shaw and £750 of legal support from sponsors HLW Keeble Hawson. Petsox produces custom protective coverings for animal bandages and casts. The product - a sock designed to remain comfortably fitted in place even during movement - has a non-slip sole and a 100% waterproof layer that is unique to the market.
Initially aimed at directly supplying veterinary surgeries, the business hopes to expand in to domestic sales through supermarkets, pet stores and online retailers. Vanessa studied for a BSc (Honours) Forensic Biosciences.
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