Students Shine in Entrepreneurial Competition at Tresham College
Tresham College, part of The Bedford College Group, recently hosted an exciting enterprise competition for its Business and Accounting students. This initiative was executed in collaboration with Moulton College and received support from local business leaders associated with the North Northants Business Network (NNBN).
All students enrolled in Business and Accounting were invited to participate in this enriching program. They had the freedom to work either individually or in teams to brainstorm and develop fresh ideas, preparing them for potential entrepreneurial journeys.
Throughout the school year, students engaged in this program as a part of their additional activities. They crafted and honed their product or service concepts, examining their market viability, creating branding and marketing strategies, and developing financial forecasts. Presentations showcased their progress at the end of each term, marking essential milestones in their entrepreneurial pursuits.
The competition culminated in a grand finale featuring colleges from across Northamptonshire. This final event took place at the Manor House Restaurant in Corby, where students pitched their ideas to a panel of judges.
From Tresham College, three standout finalists represented their innovative business concepts, while the final event showcased a total of six diverse business ideas. Students vied for prizes in multiple categories, including a £250 prize to help bring the winning idea to life.
The top honors went to Year 1 BTEC Business students Gio and Milo, who created an impressive AI web-design tool that captivated the judges during their pitch.
Gio expressed his excitement after winning, stating, “Milo and I feel very honored to have won the 2026 Trailblazers competition. We plan to invest this prize money back into our project to enhance it for our customers.”
Natalie Alders, the Programme Manager for Business, shared her enthusiasm for the event. “We are delighted to be collaborating with Moulton College and Simon Cox from the North Northants Business Network,” she said. “The students have a broad scope to generate unique ideas that tackle real issues.”
She further remarked on the competition’s value, noting, “This opportunity helps students build confidence and develop essential business skills, while the £250 prize serves as an investment to help elevate their ideas.”
Local entrepreneur and NNBN Co-Founder Simon Cox also supported the event. He brought years of experience from managing small businesses and actively engaging with policymakers on small business issues. “It’s rewarding to engage with students and help them refine their ideas,” Simon noted. “The business landscape can be tricky, and it’s wonderful to see students learning how to pitch and improve their concepts.”
The overarching goal of the program is to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship among young people while providing valuable insights into the challenges and realities of launching and running a business.
