A group of budding entrepreneurs from Blackwood Comprehensive School have been named Wales’ “best company” at the Young Enterprise Wales Awards 2012.
Nucleus, a team of Year 10 students, took the top award for their company and its mobile phone charger device, the ‘Hugga Plug’.
The ‘Hugga Plug’ fits around the plug of a phone charger while the wire for the charger can be wrapped around. The mobile phone is then rested on the shelf so the phone can be charged with no trailing wires.
The team will now go through to the national finals.
Owen Lewis, Managing Director of Nucleus, said: “We are shocked but really excited about winning our way through to the Finals in London. It’s been a fabulous day and such an experience competing against schools from around Wales, most of them older than us as we are a Year 10 group. The whole experience of running our own business has been amazing. We are honoured to be representing our country with our unique Hugga plug. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”
He said the 17-strong team wanted to thank their business mentor, Mostyn Davies from Trading Standards, who had been a fantastic mentor and put them in touch with other organisations which had helped them with their product development and sales.
Anne Colwill, Young Enterprise Manager for Wales, said: “More than 2,000 teenagers across Wales have taken part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme this year, so it’s a huge achievement for a Year 10 company from Blackwood Comprehensive School to get to the national finals.
“The judging panel of experienced business leaders from around Wales had a difficult job to do, with the standard getting better and better each year. All the competitors proved that the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and kicking among young people in Wales.”
Sarah Jones, from recruitment firm Acorn, was appointed to the Cardiff and Vale Young Enterprise Board earlier this year.
She said: “Young Enterprise is such a fantastic organisation, which myself and Acorn are hugely proud to be associated with.
“The awards highlight the extraordinary talent and business acumen of young people in Wales. All the teams have accomplished so much, it is a wonderful achievement. We wish Nucleus the very best of luck in the grand final in London.”