A team of students from the Newtown campus of the NPTC Group of Colleges has taken first prize in a competition organised by the Positive Pathways Powys group.
And now they are looking to take bookings for their business – Smart Integrate - which aims to help people who aren’t IT confident fit smart technology into their homes or businesses.
The partnership challenged learners in high and special schools and further education students in the county to come up with an idea for a business which would work in the county.
As well as picking up a trophy, the winning team, which beat off more than 30 entries, also picked up £200 worth of gift vouchers, courtesy of What About Me Training Ltd and Weale’s Wheels. The team has also been invited to make their presentation to the county council’s Cabinet later this month.
Powys County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander chaired the judging panel at County Hall, Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday. She commented: “Powys is an enterprising county where small business is the backbone of our local economy and judging from the enthusiasm and vision we saw, our young people will have all the skills and enthusiasm to drive our economy forward.
"It was a pleasure to listen to their brilliant ideas and it was very hard to pick a winner: as judges, we felt we were the real winners having the opportunity to hear their detailed, practical and inspiring plans.”
The Smart Integrate team has set up a website to take enquiries and bookings at https://smartintegrate.wixsite.com/smartintegrate and they can also be found via Instagram.
A team from Brecon High School took the Silver trophy with their idea for a healthy café based in Brecon town centre.
And the Bronze trophy went to students from Crickhowell High School for their idea for a holiday and theme park located within the Brecon Beacons.
Joining Cllr. Alexander on the judging panel were:
- Cllr. Martin Weale of Powys County Council;
- Guy Morgan from IT’s Dun (a mid-Wales based IT and CCTV company);
- Sharon Hughes and Kate Tabb from What About Me Ltd, a company committed to supporting people who work with vulnerable children;
- Helen Roderick of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority;
- Jason Rawbone, Professional Lead for Catering with Powys County Council.
The Positive Pathways Powys group earlier this month held the third Powys Careers Festival at Llanelwedd, where some 3,000 learners from across Powys were able to access around 100 exhibitors to find out what option are available to them when they leave compulsory education. The group is made up of Powys County Council, high schools in the county, Careers Wales, Cambrian Training Ltd, the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) and the NPTC Group of Colleges.
Photo: The Newtown Campus team are pictured with (from left) Cllr. Myfanwy Alexander, (fourth and fifth from left) Kate Tabb and Sharon Hughes of What About Me Training Ltd and (right) Cllr. Martin Weale
