Xchanging, the business process, procurement and technology services provider and integrator announces that the Xchanging sponsored Team GB has won the accolade European Young Entrepreneurs of the Year. The title was awarded after some gruelling competition against teams from across Europe. The team will now travel to New York in April to attend the Network for Teaching Young Entrepreneurs Gala Dinner where they will represent Great Britain. The event delivers global recognition for their achievement and the opportunity to network with young entrepreneurs from all over the world as well as American business leaders.
The Xchanging sponsored team consists of three teenagers from South London: Bethany Garraway and Maliha Asad, both 16 previously of Norbury Manor Business & Enterprise College and Mark Kpatakpa, 15 from St. Joseph’s College. The three students impressed judges at the European round with their business plan for Sole Sales Ltd, a firm that designs and produces stylish women’s footwear with detachable heels. The students created and developed their winning idea during a Young Entrepreneurs Croydon Summer School run by The Network for Teaching Young Entrepreneurs in July 2011.
In July, Xchanging sponsored the British leg of the competition, which Maliha, Bethany and Mark won. In late 2012, the team was named European Young Entrepreneurs of the Year after presenting their business plan for Sole Sales Ltd to a panel of judges at Trinity College Dublin. They competed against teams from Germany, Belgium, Austria and Ireland.
Julie Lynch, head of relations at Xchanging, commented: “We are extremely proud of Maliha, Bethany and Mark for being named European Young Entrepreneurs of the Year. We originally sponsored the competition because of the fantastic and unique opportunity if offers to young people and we are thrilled that Team GB has gone on to win the European title and to represent the UK in New York.”
Usha Kong, managing director of the Network for Teaching Young Entrepreneurs commented, “The judges were enormously impressed with the business plan for Sole Sales Ltd. Maliha, Bethany and Mark showed unrivalled poise, passion and determination in their presentation and should be tremendously proud of their performance. We would like to thank Xchanging for both their sponsorship of the competition and their support of the winning team.”
