For the team of seven girls are the first winners of Teesside University’s Junior Blueprint award.
The Blueprint Awards celebrate enterprise and innovation among North East university staff and students and the Teesside area finals were held in Teesside University’s Students’ Union.
For the first time, the Teesside event included a junior award for 13-16 year olds. Entries for the new ‘Entrepreneurs of the Future’ category came from the two Teesside University 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’s Church of England Academy in Darlington. St Aidan’s were the overall winner, clinching £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 ‘slim shady’, 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 £50.
Following research they devised a product retailing at £12.99 manufactured from a material similar to a pet rabbit’s 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 ‘Slim Shady’, 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’s fellow team members Jess Metcalfe, also 14, added: “It felt quite normal to do the presentation. We’re going to use the money for future enterprise activities.”
Both girls are also enthusiastic about Teesside University’s new £13m campus in Darlington, which will enrol its first students this September. Gugu said: 'It’s going to be a lot closer and easier for people who live in Darlington.'
Jess added: 'It’s quite exciting, getting another University much nearer.'
Lorna Reed, Assistant Business and Enterprise Co-ordinator at St Aidan’s said: 'The girls’ 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’m extremely proud they were the first winners of Junior Blueprint, it’s been such a great opportunity for them to showcase their enterprise skills.'
Laura Woods, Director of the University’s Department of Academic Enterprise, said: 'St Aidan’s were worthy winners in what was an excellent competition. Junior Blueprint has been a fantastic experience for us all. It’s been a real pleasure to work with the schools, and we’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm and creativity of these young entrepreneurs.
'We’re 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’s entrepreneurs of the future.'