Team Funnelling 4 Fuel from Avonbourne College in Bournemouth has been selected as one of the finalists of the countrywide enterprise challenge Tycoon in Schools, run by the Peter Jones Foundation.
After competing alongside hundreds of school children across the country, Team Funnelling 4 Fuel is just one of four teams to be selected by a panel of judges, led by Peter Jones CBE and is now in the running to be crowned winner of Tycoon in Schools. The students at Avonbourne Sixth Form who are members of this committed team are Kam Grernsranoi, Sydney Fensom, Harry King, Charlotte Hawtrey-Coombes, James Runnacles and Jake Murgatroyd.
Funnelling 4 Fuel aims to kick-start their community’s recycling routines, sourcing domestic eco-funnels for students and encouraging them to recycle their waste cooking oils. These oils are then transformed into bio-fuel, at Avonbourne College, and used to run their community mini-bus.
Team Funnelling 4 Fuel has been invited to attend an exclusive ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 12 February, where they will be personally congratulated by HRH, The Duke of York KG, Patron of the Peter Jones Foundation, and Peter Jones CBE.
HRH, The Duke of York, will unveil the champion of Tycoon in Schools, who will be awarded £1,000 of investment for their business. Awards will also be presented to the teams for outstanding achievement in team work, community engagement, sustainability and business concept.
Commenting on the standout performance of Funnelling 4 Fuel, Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Peter Jones Foundation commented: “I have been truly impressed by the innovative business concept delivered by the Funnelling 4 Fuel team. And, not only have they worked fantastically as a team to ensure that the college’s waste is recycled, they have also galvanized their whole community, including local businesses, to encourage them all to donate their waste oil.
“I wish the team the very best of luck with rolling out their business model to larger organisations and other schools, as well as generating enough revenue to purchase a new mini-bus.”
Kam Grernsranoi was delighted by the news, stating “This is incredible; I’m definitely going to write to the universities I have applied to for my business degree. They are going to be so impressed!”
Underpinned by Peter’s mission to put enterprise at the heart of the education system, Tycoon in Schools is a nationwide competition, run by the Peter Jones Foundation, which aims to encourage and inspire young people across the country to start a business whilst at school.
Peter Jones CBE commented: “I have been so pleased and overwhelmed by the teams’ ideas and achievements this year. With so many fabulous businesses being created in such a short time frame, 2013 has been the most successful Tycoon in Schools yet.
“Recognising all the winners of Tycoon in Schools 2013 and the unveiling of this year’s overall winner at Buckingham Palace is going to be incredibly exciting for both myself and our Patron, HRH, The Duke of York.“
The competition is backed by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, as part of its wider goal to invigorate entrepreneurialism across the country.
Schools are invited to register their interest for the 2014 competition by visiting: www.tycooninschools.com
You can also follow the campaign on Twitter: @Tycooninschools
