Partner Article

Darlington Building Society helps young entrepreneurs to final

Darlington Building Society branch manager Sheena Hunter has helped mentor a group of budding entrepreneurs to the regional final of Young Enterprise.

Nineteen sixth-formers from Carmel College, Darlington, have formed Vintage ViBIZ, an eco-friendly company that recycles vinyl records into bowls and reuses ringpulls from drinks cans strung onto ribbon to make bracelets.

The inspiration for the inventive products was triggered by the team wanting to have a ‘green’ focus and that the raw materials needed were cost-effective and easy to source. Market research confirmed that their concept was on the right lines.

Vintage ViBIZ comprises joint managing directors Victoria Lindsey and Lauren Henley supported by Chloe Saxton, Sophie Vayro, Jonny Horner, Martin Heskett, Cameron Fletcher, Rosie Passman, Jamie Heward, Richard Coxon, Emma Colbourne, Luke Shove, Ciara Byrne, Sophie Hutchinson, Jess Collett, Karl Murray, Alexandra Barlow, Katie Hall and William Holder.

Sheena Hunter, manager of the Society’s Northallerton branch, has helped mentor the group by providing advice on a range of qualities needed to run a successful business including how to get unit costs and profits margins right, the need for market research, how to keep on top of supply and demand, the importance of cash flow and how to prepare accounts.

She said: “It has been very rewarding supporting Vintage ViBIZ as the students are so enthusiastic and have shown a great aptitude for business.

“I am sure that some of them will go onto become successful entrepreneurs in their future careers.”

Vintage ViBIZ is among the teams competing in the Young Enterprise regional final in Newcastle on June 18.

If they win they will go on to represent the North East at national level in London.

Sheena added: “Vintage ViBIZ’s place in the regional final is well-deserved and all at Darlington Building Society will be rooting for them on June 18.”

Victoria Lindsey said: “We have all learnt so much from being involved in Young Enterprise and the knowledge and life skills we have acquired will be of immense value in our future lives whether going on to further education or taking our first steps on the career ladder

“We are grateful for the time and effort that Sheena and Darlington Building Society have dedicated to helping Vintage ViBIZ and we hope we will do them proud at the regional final.”

Young Enterprise challenges young people to set up a company, develop a product, draw up financial and marketing strategies and make a profit from the sales.

Young Enterprise is the United Kingdom’s largest business and enterprise education charity. Every year it helps 250,000 young people learn about business and the world of work in the classroom under the guidance of volunteers from 3,500 companies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .