29th November 2016
Two students Shelby Asante, 18 From Newham and Umbreen Waheed, 17 from East Ham won a Dragons? Den-style competition for the dream prize of opening their own shop.
Their winning pitch was about their proposed business a sweet shop, aptly called CANDI.
18 Barking & Dagenham College students pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges during Global Enterprise Week (16th November). They had to convince the judges that their ideas were valid business ventures and would work well as a new shop, located on College premises. The ideas included Deidade handmade jewellery, 10/Ten Slush – a slushy drinks shop and of the winning business idea CANDI. They then had an agonising one week wait to find out who would be announced as the winner on Wednesday 23rd November.
The panel was so impressed in fact that first prize was shared with two other fledgeling companies – Deidade and Smoothie Stop. The students behind these businesses will also get an opportunity to use the shop space during different days of the week to CANDI.
Adnan Mahmood, Chief Entrepreneurial Leader at Barking & Dagenham College commented: “The winning teams that won the Pop-Up shop opportunity all presented sound business plans and a presentation that was pitch perfect. Observing the winning groups and the looks on their faces was priceless; they were over the moon and eager to get their ventures off the ground.”
The College, on Dagenham Road, Rush Green has several shops and a public restaurant along with its glass-fronted façade; these are used to give students the opportunity to gain real-life work experience opportunities. The new shop will be open to members of the public and will open its doors before Christmas. The groups’ first sales opportunity will be during the College’s annual Christmas Market, which takes place at the Rush Green campus next Thursday 8th December 3.30pm-7pm.
