“The Young Enterprise Company Programme is renowned as the ultimate teenage enterprise challenge. Over the course of a year, groups of students create and run real profit-generating businesses under the guidance of an expert business volunteer. They draw up business plans, create products and services, raise share capital, sell to the public at trade fairs and face fierce scrutiny from judges in several gruelling rounds of the Company Programme competition. The competition, funded by HSBC, ends with a glittering final in London and the possibility of a trip to compete against the finest young entrepreneurs in Europe.” - The Young Enterprise website

Year 11 and Year 12 Students of Harris CofE Academy, Lawrence Sheriff School and Ashlawn School won this year’s Overall Best Company Award in Rugby's Young Enterprise Competition. The company also received Best Presentation Award.  

Parth J, from Harris CofE Academy, was one of the two students to win an individual prize: High Achiever Award. Burning Desire's Finance director (Chalrotte B.) was also recognised as the best finance director in this year's competition.
 

The students company, Burning Desire, designs and sells laser engraved wooden decorations. Their link to Harris CofE Academy allowed them to source material and laser engraving equipment.
 

They decided to focus on decorations for the festive period like A5 plaques engraved with Christmas messages, pictures and name tags for gifts, broadening their range to include plaques for doors and houses with names or house numbers engraved on. 

Finally, they introduced products like clocks which turned out to be a very successful venture. They also created more practical products like coaster sets for board rooms, clocks that could be customised with logos or names of companies, giving them a unique bespoke range for each client.

“To receive sales we knew we would have to be more proactive and look for them specifically. To do this we sent emails and letters to companies in the local area highlighting who we were and what we offer- through this letter we asked for time to pitch our products to them, allowing us to gain experience of a corporate environment whilst selling products.” - Burning Desire's presentation

The competition, takes 7 months from the very beginning of starting  the company until the final presentation at the end. The focus is on all aspects of entrepreneurship including fundraising, starting the company, people management, opening the accounts and money management, sourcing material, product design and marketing, production, sales skills, quality of report, presentation and stand, innovation.

 

The winning company will go on to represent Rugby at the Coventry & Warwickshire Strategic Final to be held in May.