The Headmaster’s Business Award returned before the half-term break with Year 12 Business pupils putting their entrepreneurial skills to the test by coming up with a new product or service that could be developed and sold into the sports and leisure industry. Following an initial round, the finalists were grilled by a panel of ‘Dragons’ before a winner was announced...
The Headmasters’ Business Award, founded in 2015 by the business studies department, is open to Year 12 business studies pupils and is the culmination of the students’ work on their marketing-based units.
Round 1 took place on Friday 12 May and consisted of pupils pitching their ideas to staff and Year 13 pupils. Armed with their boards, posters and products, the pupils had the lunchtime to present their product or service. Staff and Year 13 pupils then had the opportunity to vote for the ideas with the most potential.
Votes counted; a final lineup was announced with the following making it through to the grand final:
- Glassify – Oscar Smaje, Olivia Parkin and Flo Lenthall – an innovative product that stops glasses and drinks from being spiked when out in a bar/club. The product itself is a rubber cap that attaches to the glass.
- Glow Tech – Callan Wallis, Emily Over and Sophia McDavid – a product for cricket fans; as the name suggests, Glow Tech reveals if a cricket ball has come into contact with a pad, thus reducing the need for decision reviews.
- Registration X – Roey Acton and Lily Cheek – a device for class registration. This innovative product would be used in schools and universities and will take a register via a thumbprint.
- Sustineri – Sam Frisby – a product with sustainability at the heart. This product is 3D shoes that are personalised to a buyer’s foot size and shape. The product can also be designed according to stylistic taste.
- WLC – Monty Walker – a lawn care service with different tiers according to the subscription purchased.
For the final, each group or pupil needed to prepare an initial pitch summarising their product and why it is investment worthy. They then took questions from the Dragons. On the panel sat the Headmaster, Mr Howe; business teacher Mr Gower; the recent Year 10 GCSE Business Dragons' Den winner, Evan Greenway; Marketing and Communications Officer Mr Johnston, and local business owner and Shiplake governor, Rose Grimond, who is the founder of Nettlebed Creamery.
The questions focused on aspects of the 4Ps (price, place, product, promotion) and pupils had to consider costs, revenue, profitability, promotional methods, scalability (potential for growth), features and benefits of the product/service and why would people buy it. It proved to be an intense affair with the Dragons delving deep into the ideas and really putting the young entrepreneurs through their paces.
All participants performed admirably both in Round 1 and in the Grand Final. Ahead of the final, Head of Business Mr Olhausen said:
‘Firstly, thank you for making me a very proud Head of Department today. I really appreciate your entrepreneurial efforts and I received lots of favourable feedback from colleagues who were very impressed with your ideas. Congratulations to the above teams for making it to the final and commiserations to those that didn't. But thank you all again for your efforts.’
However, there could only be one winner with the 2023 Headmaster’s Business Award going to Sam Frisby and his product, Sustineri. Following the final Sam was presented a winning trophy by the Headmaster.
Congratulations to all of the Year 12 pupils who participated and for making it such an impressive event. The level of detail and creativity that went into all of the ideas truly showcased the entrepreneurial side of our pupils.
