The Barmy adventures of our owner Eve continued on Thursday (April 16) – as she made a tremendous impression at a national business awards ceremony in Cardiff, South Wales.
Eve, 17, was flying the flag not only for her bunting business but for her hometown, her county, and for the North, having made the final of the national USW Making Business Happen awards at the Royal Wales College of Drama and Music.
And she was thrilled to finish joint runner-up in the ‘Aspiring Entrepreneur’ category, behind the 20-year-old winner, thus earning a cash prize for her business, and money for her college.
Barnsley lass Eve, in the first year of A Level study at Shelley College, near Huddersfield, had initially been shortlisted for the award from hundreds of entries – and then booked her place in the final with an impressive pitch in South Wales in February.
At the glittering awards ceremony on Thursday our young lady from Worsbrough (pictured below with her mum and dad) was unveiled as the joint runner-up behind 20-year-old Welsh student Edward Shorney, who attends Bridgend College.
Said Eve: “I have loved the whole experience of the Making Business Happen awards, from pitching in front of the judges (see picture below) through to the fantastic awards ceremony. It will prove invaluable.
“I have made some tremendous contacts and hopefully made some lasting friendships with the other businesses, such as the fantastic Much Better Adventures, Linkee and TrakCel.
“Barmy was the only business from the North to make the final, and to finish runner-up to someone who is three year older than me is something that I’m very proud of. The aim is now to progress further.
“I believe passionately in my business – and the future of Barmy – and that passion and determination, together with a solid business plan, will hopefully take me where I want to go.”
Eve and her Barmy product reached the final of business competition Yorkshire’s Got Talent last year, while this year, as well as the Making Business Happen awards, she has also entered the 2015 The Pitch competition and the BIY Inspired Awards.
The other ‘Aspiring Entrepreneur’ finalists and joint runners-up at the USW awards were iStudent from Wales and Plant Notes from Frome College in Somerset.
Organised by The University of South Wales, the Making Business Happen Awards had four categories overall.
- Graduate Start-Up Award (open to UK businesses that have been in operation for less than three years).
- SME Business Growth Award (open to medium-sized businesses, founded by UK graduates, that have been in operation for a minimum of three years).
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs Award (open to school and college students across the UK).
- USW Entrepreneurs Challenge (open to current University of South Wales students or students of partner colleges).
