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Young Enterprise students claim top spots in National Essay Competition

Posted: 1st July 2019

 

Two students from Taunton School have been awarded first and third place at the Young Enterprise Sustainable Success Essay competition.

Year 12 A-Level students, Danielle Hardy and Josh Cummings, formed part of the successful Taunton School Young Enterprise Team who reached the Regional Finals with their product, Go-Sip tea.

As part of their involvement in Young Enterprise, they were invited to take part in the Sustainable Success Essay Competition alongside other UK candidates. Both Danielle and Josh took the opportunity to enter and were rewarded with first and third place respectively.

Candidates were required to write a 2000 word essay on business sustainability and leadership. 17-year-old Danielle’s winning essay was titled “What it takes for a business to be savvy, sustainable and successful”. She wrote about her personal experience with Young Enterprise and how it has taught her business and life skills. Danielle said: “My essay highlighted the most important abilities and values that I believe are integral to a good leader: learning from mistakes, having kindness and compassion to all and caring on a global scale.”

Danielle scooped the impressive prize of £1000 and will now receive specialist careers advice coaching sessions.

Danielle said: “Winning the Sustainable Success Award was such an incredible honour, especially since I believe the message in my essay was an important one which may often be overlooked both within and outside of the business world. Taunton School has given me not only the fantastic opportunity to participate in the YE Company Programme itself, but to subsequently lead me down new avenues like this competition which are so worthwhile and exciting to be a part of.”

17-year-old Taunton School student Josh Cummings was placed third in the competition and was awarded £250 for for his essay, in which he focused on skills that maximise entrepreneurs’ propensity for luck.

Both Danielle and Josh were invited to the Young Enterprise National Finals in County Hall, London.

Josh said: “It was a brilliant opportunity and I would recommend that anyone who has the opportunity, to take part.”

The Taunton School Young Enterprise group, Go-Sip, reached the Regional Finals earlier this year. Their mission was to focus on targeting the stigma surrounding mental health, and to encourage people to talk about it over a cup of tea. They sold Fairtrade, responsibly sourced herbal tea-bags and branded mugs, with the positive message: “It’s good to talk”.

 

Photo at the London Awards Ceremony. Left to right:  Ben Towers (award winning young entrepreneur), Danielle Hardy (Taunton School Essay Competition Winner), Peter Ward (business consultant at award sponsors, Telos Partners) and Steph McGovern (BBC Breakfast show host and business journalist) at the Awards Ceremony.

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