College News

Student business advances to regional finals

First year students from QE have launched their own business and product as part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme and have advanced to the North East Regional Finals. The fashion brand, entitled ‘c_ncept.’, is aimed at younger audiences, A Level Business and Economics student, Glenn Premarion, who is also the company’s creative director, describes the logo as ‘simple and contextual, representing a minimal aesthetic. The missing ‘o’ suggests the idea is incomplete, that there is space for it to grow into something bigger and better’. The group began by selling reusable, canvas tote bags and are now looking to expand their range of products to include t-shirts.

With support from Young Enterprise and their business adviser, Andrew Wattsford, from local business, Wattsford Commercial Finance, the students were tasked with preparing a business plan and presentation which they delivered to judges at the Tees Valley Area Showcase, hosted by Teesside University. Despite facing tough competition, ‘c_ncept.’ finished in second place and the group will now compete in the North East Regional Finals. Delighted at the result, Andrew comments: ‘It is fantastic to hear that the team from QESFC have been rewarded for their hard work. These young people have shown true entrepreneurial spirit and the skills they have developed will undoubtedly allow them to succeed in the future’.

Alfie Burns, who studies A Biology, English Literature and Maths at QE adds: ‘We are really excited to be taking part in the regional finals. We really believe in the brand and cannot wait to present it again’. Alice Atkinson, Higher Education and Careers Adviser, concludes: ‘It has been wonderful to work with these amazing, young entrepreneurs and witness them grow in confidence and during the process. I was immensely proud to see them come second in the Tees Valley Area Showcase, they thoroughly deserved it. All of the products sold by the business can be found on their Instagram page, ‘@c_ncept.official’’.