Member Article

Middlesbrough College is top for entrepreneurship

Giant pants helped Middlesbrough College win a national business competition supporting Indian farmers living in poverty.

Since September a team of five Middlesbrough College students has been involved in a UK-wide business competition organised by the charity Pants to Poverty and the Gazelle Colleges Group.

They had to sell as many pants, vests and pyjamas as they could in four weeks to make a healthy profit.

After selling out of stock and organising a successful social media campaign to highlight the plight of the farmers, the five-strong group was thrilled to discover that they were one of the UK’s top selling teams – their turnover for the four weeks was a massive £4,458.

They and the other top four teams were invited to pitch their business to a panel of entrepreneurs including Ben Ramsden, CEO of Pants to Poverty, in London, last week. (Wednesday, June 12)

The Middlesbrough College students – who named their company Fair Wear - prepared a business plan, produced a marketing strategy and honed their sales skills to take part in the competition.

The five – Chris Storey, 19, Matthew Griffiths, 16, Michaela Farrar, 18, Matthew Pegden, 19, and Megan Kirk, 20 – wowed the judges and were named winners of the competition.

Mike Hopkins, Principal and Chief Executive, said it was a “magnificent achievement”.

“We had every confidence in the team and they have proved themselves to be a remarkable group of young people.

“It’s a great honour to lead a College where students have the ability, determination and opportunity to win a national award.

“We have some exceptionally talented people at Middlesbrough College, from students to staff, and we are doing our utmost to provide great opportunities for students to develop skills in enterprise and entrepreneurship, which will lead to self-employment, jobs, opportunity and prosperity.”

Tom Metcalfe, Middlesbrough College Projects Coordinator, said: “The judges said their pitch was wonderful - full of imagination and creativity.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and they have not only done the College proud but also Teesside as a whole. They were all determined, spirited and relentless in their pursuit to help this great cause.”

Joining them in London was a team of Middlesbrough College Construction students who showcased MC BUILD – a not-for-profit company aimed at providing students with work experience on real projects in the community. They were widely praised at the event by fellow colleges and entrepreneurs for their social enterprise work.

A group of Middlesbrough College Fashion/Textile students also attended the event and showcased some of the work they have produced this academic year.

Middlesbrough College is a member of the Gazelle Colleges Group, and is firmly committed to nurturing entrepreneurship and enterprise.

See Fair Wear’s promotional video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS_AyoGA8Kw&feature=youtu.be

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lottie King .