Coleg Gwent students kick-start their businesses with competition win

Coleg Gwent students kick-start their businesses with competition win

Three Crosskeys students have begun 2020 having won funding in the form of a grant in the annual Tafflab enterprise kick-starter competition.

Tafflab is an RSA initiative that not only grants start-up funding to winners from FE colleges but also matches the winning students with a team of mentors for a year, comprising two RSA Fellows and their respective college enterprise champion, in order to support the student to realise their business idea – regardless of sector or industry. Using Fellowship support and connections, participants gain support and advice to help them turn their idea into reality.

The first place winners each receive £500 to launch their respective businesses: Rachel Jones and her Homestead Health Complementary Therapies,  and Meryam el Mouataz with her Moroccan Argan Oil beauty product business. Business student Calving Bang receives £100 to explore his ideas of an eco-focused business providing sustainable solutions to student-centred products.

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Leader Zoe Blackler said “Rachel, Meryam and Calvin delivered brilliant business pitches to a panel of 10 – a daunting task in itself! Their ideas were well-researched and the passion for their products and services shone through. Supporting them on their respective entrepreneurial journeys is exciting and exceptionally rewarding, and I have no doubt 2020 is going to see their businesses flourish. I would encourage any Coleg Gwent students with a business idea to enter into one of the challenges and competitions that we facilitate – it can result not just in funding, but in linking with external stakeholders who can also provide invaluable experience, business connections and advice”.

Tafflab winner Meryam said “I want to thank everyone involved in Tafflab for their encouragement and belief in me and my business idea – something I’ve never felt I have received from any friends or family before. Being a winner of Tafflab has made me feel much more confident and I will try my best to achieve my goals.”

See yourself as the next Richard Branson or Lord Sugar? Find out how you could grow your entrepreneurial skills alongside a full time course at Coleg Gwent.