Manx student Vanessa Simpson, along with a group of friends from Liverpool John Moores University, has beaten more than 350 other companies from across the UK to win the national final of the Young Enterprise Start Up Awards.
The Awards pit budding entrepreneurs from universities across the country against each other in the challenge of building a successful business from scratch. The national final saw top teams from the regional finals submit a business plan and an investment proposal, design a trade stand and attend a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style interview, all for the chance to win a spot at the European final.
Vanessa and her fellow young entrepreneurs identified a gap in the coffee-saturated hot beverages market for easily accessible and premium quality loose-leaf tea, and set about establishing The Teabox Company in response. The company been trading since December, and is primarily an online shop for tea-loving consumers, although it also offers a B2B service and currently stocks six restaurants in the North West, with plans to expand further.
The Teabox Company beat off tough competition from nine other start-up companies at the final stage of the competition, also winning Best Trade Stand at the event, which was held at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, London. The team will now go on to compete in the European finals of the competition in Liege, Belgium in July.
Vanessa, who studies Business and Public Relations and took time off from her summer internship at Ashgrove Marketing to attend the awards, commented: “The national final was an incredible adventure. We have all really benefited from the invaluable experience of setting up our own business, but this recognition is a wonderful bonus; it’s great to see that all our hard work has paid off.
She added: “As part of our celebrations, I am pleased to announce that we are offering all Isle of Man residents 10% off their first order - just quote MANX10 at the checkout. You can enjoy some great tea at a good discount and help us to conquer Europe, all with a click of the mouse!”
To follow The Teabox Company’s European adventure, visit www.facebook.com/TheTeaboxCompany or follow @teaboxco. To have a look at what The Teabox Company has to offer visit www.teaboxcompany.co.uk.
Photo - The Teabox Company team at the national final.
