Council Event Provides Boost For Future Enterprise

While ink was drying on the Cardiff Capital City Region Deal for South Wales, Monmouthshire County Council demonstrated its continuing commitment to enterprise and promoting business opportunities by hosting an event devoted to nurturing the county’s future entrepreneurs. Held at County Hall, Usk on Tuesday, 15th March, the event provided an opportunity for students of three local schools to present their pitches to a panel of Dragons. Students were challenged to develop a business idea and consider what their enterprise would look like in 2040. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Students from Abergavenny’s King Henry VIII, Chepstow School and Inglefield House – representing Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls – attended to hear from speakers including former London Welsh RFC chief executive and rugby international Tony Copsey. Mr Copsey played the role of Chief Dragon for the evening and was among a number of guests including members of local businesses and co-dragons, joint sponsors Judicium Education and the council’s Monmouthshire Business and Enterprise team who arranged the event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The students’ ideas included an e-cookery book, an eco-restaurant with a promotional app and the winning idea, Dog Doo Freeze. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hilary Phillips, headmistress of Inglefield House – the winning team – said: “I’d like to thank the council for arranging this stimulating event. Our team loved the experience of sitting in the council chamber and to win was the icing on the cake. We’re aiming to involve the school in similar activities and hope to organise an event early in the summer term.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Councillor Bob Greenland, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for enterprise and innovation said: “This evening forms part of our new initiative to raise awareness of enterprise in education and to build bridges between our schools and the local business community. The council prioritises education as well as support for business and job creation and we’re pleased to host an event that promotes prosperity, both now and for the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The evening was preceded by a business seminar and workshop where an update was presented on the latest and future developments at a regional level including the recently announced Cardiff Capital City Region Deal for South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​