Star students’ enterprise awards

On Wednesday 21 June, thirteen college-wide entrepreneurs received accolades and praise for their business ideas.

Businesses included West Notts Woodworms who have succeeded in their mission to ‘make something from nothing’ using their joinery and painting and decorating skills. The Woodworms make and retail bird boxes, planters and bird tables using recycled wooden pallets and fence panels.

Other students who were applauded for their enterprising ways were members of Recover, a computer repair business based at the college’s Derby Road campus in Mansfield.

Recover is the brainchild of five students on the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in IT (Networking and Systems Support).  The students offer iPhone and computer repairs and fault diagnostics, Since April they’ve been giving staff and students a high-quality on-site service for phone and PC faults at competitive prices.

Student experience officer Oliver Pate has been leading on the entrepreneurial initiatives, and hosted the awards ceremony with Students’ Union president Marc Jones. He said: “It’s been great this year to see so many students wanting to be involved in creating some unique business opportunities.

“Not only are they providing some great products for our staff and students, but they’re gaining brand new sets of skills in terms of marketing, research, sourcing materials as well as making real profits.”

A new trophy was introduced this year, awarded to a school of learning whose business initiative has displayed the most business innovation and has gained the most profit.

This year the excellence in enterprise cup was awarded to the construction and building services curriculum for their West Notts Woodworms business. Students Chris Adams and Matthew Bingham accepted the award on behalf of the school of learning. The cup is a result of ongoing work that construction put in place to support the Woodworms’ enterprise at the college which has raised over £200 in profit since their start-up.