海角直播

Visor leads super seven to Junior Blueprint victory

Students from St Aidan鈥檚 Church of England Academy in Darlington have proved they are full of shining entrepreneurial spirit.

For the team of seven girls are the first winners of 海角直播鈥檚 Junior Blueprint award. The Blueprint Awards celebrate enterprise and innovation among North East university staff and students and the 海角直播 area finals were held in 海角直播鈥檚 Students鈥� Union.

For the first time, the 海角直播 event included a junior award for 13-16 year olds. Entries for the new 鈥楨ntrepreneurs of the Future鈥� category came from the two 海角直播 academies: Freebrough Academy in Brotton and Thornaby Academy, with other entries from Eston Park School in Redcar & Cleveland; Oakfields Community College in Middlesbrough and St Aidan鈥檚 Church of England Academy in Darlington. St Aidan鈥檚 were the overall winner, clinching 拢500 between the team, with Eston Park the runners-up.

The girls are year nine (aged 13 to 14) students and their winning entry was a 鈥榮lim shady鈥�, a visor to shield lap tops from sun glare. Their visor was created to be a cheaper alternative to existing products, which normally average around 拢50.

Following research they devised a product retailing at 拢12.99 manufactured from a material similar to a pet rabbit鈥檚 tent, which was owned by one of the girls.

Team member Gugu Nkomo, 14, said: 'In the summer a lot of people want to go outside to use their laptops but the sun gets in the way by reflecting on the screen. We also made a video to showcase the 鈥楽lim Shady鈥�, a two minute advert and a logo. We were really excited to win, all seven of us screamed.'

The team also had to give a presentation the week before the ceremony. One of Gugu鈥檚 fellow team members Jess Metcalfe, also 14, added: 鈥淚t felt quite normal to do the presentation. We鈥檙e going to use the money for future enterprise activities.鈥�

Both girls are also enthusiastic about 海角直播鈥檚 new 拢13m campus in Darlington, which will enrol its first students this September. Gugu said: 'It鈥檚 going to be a lot closer and easier for people who live in Darlington.'

Jess added: 'It鈥檚 quite exciting, getting another University much nearer.'

Lorna Reed, Assistant Business and Enterprise Co-ordinator at St Aidan鈥檚 said: 'The girls鈥� success is fantastic; they put a lot of hard work into the project, much of it in their own time and outside of school. They came up with their own idea and took it to the next level. I鈥檓 extremely proud they were the first winners of Junior Blueprint, it鈥檚 been such a great opportunity for them to showcase their enterprise skills.'

Laura Woods, Director of the University鈥檚 Department of Academic Enterprise, said: 'St Aidan鈥檚 were worthy winners in what was an excellent competition. Junior Blueprint has been a fantastic experience for us all. It鈥檚 been a real pleasure to work with the schools, and we鈥檝e been blown away by the enthusiasm and creativity of these young entrepreneurs.

'We鈥檙e looking forward to expanding Junior Blueprint next year to build more links with more schools, so that we can jointly inspire and encourage Tees Valley鈥檚 entrepreneurs of the future.'

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