The female winners of Hyundai’s second ‘Best Business Enterprise’ award were presented with their trophy by 2012 Summer Olympics Gold Medal winner, Nicola Adams MBE.

The boxer made a special appearance at the Hyundai Training Academy in High Wycombe, answering questions on boxing and her famous victories at the London Games.

The winning team was called Magneat, formed and run by 13 pupils from Holmer Green Senior School in Buckinghamshire. The team developed and brought to market a dashboard tidy that uses friction bubbles to securely hold possessions such as mobile phones or wallets on the car’s fascia, reducing driver distraction. Having seen off stiff competition from five other teams, Magneat and runners-up Fun Learning 4 U (The Highcrest Academy) will travel to Frankfurt, Germany to participate in the European Skills for the Future competition.

Magneat overcame a number of challenges to bring their product to market, including changing supplier. The team’s marketing and advertising activities included a radio interview and adverts, as well as social media activation including Twitter. They have sold their ‘dashboard tidy’ at four events and the team says it plans to sell it at further events in June.

Tony Whitehorn, CEO of Hyundai Motor UK, commented: “I was very impressed by the creativity, determination and business savvy shown by all teams contesting the second Hyundai Best Business Enterprise competition. What struck me most was the degree to which social media and digital platforms were used in the teams’ marketing communications. It’s exciting and encouraging to see the huge potential of young people being realised through Hyundai’s Skills for the Future initiative.”

Charlotte Arpino James, Managing Director of Magneat, said: “We have learnt so much from Best Business Enterprise, especially about how to motivate each other and communicate effectively.” The team’s Operations Deputy Manager, Maddie Hanson, added: “I think the biggest lessons we’ve learned are about the importance of teamwork and self-belief.”

The Best Business Enterprise award is part of Skills for the Future, a collaboration programme between Hyundai and Young Enterprise that aims to equip young people with the skills they need to succeed in today’s highly competitive job market.

The teams competing in 2014 Best Business Enterprise (project names in brackets) were: Magneat, Holmer Green Senior School (winners); Fun Learning 4 U, The Highcrest Academy (Runners-up); Alliance, The Highcrest Academy (3rd place); Are We There Yet?, John Colet School; Team Gear, Nether Stowe High School; and Cwmni Ifanc, Aberdare Girls’ School.

Well done to all. It’s great to see a female team winning on this occasion.

FOXY

NB: The winning Magneat team from Holmer Green Senior School in Buckinghamshire included: Charlotte Arpino James, Managing Director; Madeleine Hanson, Secretary Manager; Amy Kershaw, Operations Deputy Manager; Surmand Rehman, Sales Manager; Tara Pinhorn, Finance Manager (all present at awards ceremony); Lucy Ogle, Operations Manager; Charlotte Landon, Deputy Managing Director; Maxine Arpino James, Secretary Deputy Manager; Kyle Quin, IT Manager; Hannah Gatfield, Marketing Manager; Elle Weddell, Human Resources Deputy Manager; Gabriella Mash, Marketing Deputy Manager; and Sophie Allison, Human Resources Manager.