Students at Henshaws Specialist College in Harrogate are celebrating after receiving three awards for their work this year.
The students have won a national award and two regional awards for their environmentally-friendly T-shirt printing business, Eco Threads.
All involved take part in Henshaws employability programme, designed to give students the skills needed for a future in the workplace.
The team behind Eco Threads, which was launched in September last year, beat 50 other teams from across the UK to take the national award In the Young Enterprise competition for their online advertisement for their products. They also took the Yorkshire and Humber title for the best trade stand and the runner-up spot for best company.
Young Enterprise Manager for North Yorkshire Jill Tinsley said:
Eco Threads were absolutely awesome at the regional finals. Their presentation was amazing. They are a credit to themselves and the college – an inspiration.”
Supported by Henshaws Specialist College’s Work Experience Co-ordinator, Lee Gray, the students came up with the name Eco Threads, together with a logo, business plan and marketing and sales strategy. Individual roles were allocated according to each student’s strengths and interests and included sourcing the raw materials, creating the designs using computer software and using a T-shirt press to print the products. The students tracked costs and sales and checked deliveries, with daily team meetings to iron out any issues.
Lee Gray said:
Through our Young Enterprise group we create an environment where our students learn about the types of business they could get involved with when they leave college. It’s about expanding the students’ thoughts and views on what jobs they can do. And, of course, it’s about running a viable business that makes money!
