A group of Strathclyde Business School students have had their innovative idea recognised by the Institute for Enterprise in their annual Young Innovators Competition.
The five students – Fergus Moore, Rebecca Richardson, Christie Murphy, Rachael Reid, Scott Kennedy - are currently in their third year of the BA in Business Enterprise degree offered by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. As ‘Team Revive’, the students won the Founders Award and $2,500 at the Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures competition at Neeley Entrepreneurship Centre at TCU, Texas, last year. Their environmentally friendly idea involving recycling coffee grounds into products for gardeners has now also won them £10,000.
There were three other Strathclyde University winners, including Rebecca Pick, who is studying BA Marketing and Enterprise at Strathclyde Business School. She won £2,000.
The Young Innovators Challenge 2014 focused on social innovation to help address issues which affect our communities, and entries were welcomed in three categories; health and wellbeing, green and sustainable energy, smarter communities and infrastructure.
The competition was open to anyone in Scotland over the age of 18 and studying at college, university or an apprenticeship programme.
This year's competition attracted more than 300 entries, half of which were shortlisted and put before the expert judging panel of: Tony Banks, chief executive of Balhousie Care Group, Josh Littlejohn, organiser of the Scottish Business Awards and creator of the Social Bite, and Susan Aktemel, Director of Homes for Good (Scotland).
The 151 shortlisted entrants were then asked to compile short videos for the judging panel to explain their ideas in greater detail.
Tony Banks, speaking for the judges, said, "The standard of entries was inspirationally strong. As a group of judges we felt it truly uplifting to see Scotland's young people not only identify real social issues, but to also bring potential solutions to those problems. "
The 33 winning teams and individuals will now attend an exclusive residential Bootcamp and workshops to develop their ideas further.
Winners from previous years include Victoria Hamilton, a University of Strathclyde graduate whose innovative knee and joint protection was designed to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.
Fiona Godsman, chief executive of competition organisers the Scottish Institute for Enterprise, congratulated the winners. She said, "The level of enthusiasm, energy and innovation displayed by all entrants to this year's competition has been outstanding. The ideas have ranged from those which affect small communities to those which could benefit the whole of Scotland and even beyond. Each entry deserved to be recognised and we would encourage those who haven't been successful at this stage to seek out help and persevere to move their ideas forward."