Turning waste products into a viable business sounds like a task set by Lord Sugar, but this is actually the challenge undertaken by a group of students from South Eastern Regional College who have recently set up their own recycling company.
Bellisle Recycling has been established by five carpentry apprentices who secured funding from the British Council for Youth in Action, which is funded by the European Lottery Fund.
To be awarded funding the students took part in the Big Ideas Challenge were they completing a business plan and presented it to a panel of judges.
The young entrepreneurs business involves recycling waste wood from the College and local businesses to make saw dust products. This provides a much needed material for animal sanctuaries and pet owners and also helps the students achieve their aim of helping the environment.
The funding is now being used to purchase uniforms and equipment and the students are taking an educational trip to Balcas as part of their market research.
One of the students, Stephen Mooney, said: “We are delighted. We will now put the money to good use to make our business idea a reality. Taking part in the challenge provided me with an excellence insight into what’s involved in becoming self-employed; it really inspired me to set up my own business when I finish my course at SERC.”
These students are now part of a growing number of SERC students who are taking advantage of the opportunity to set up their own business within the College.
SERC enterprise manager, Sharon Browne, explained: “We recognise that students need a range of skills in order to prepare them for the world of work, such as timekeeping, planning and working as a team. This is all achieved by those who get involved in a SERC student company, and can help boost a student’s CV.”
Currently 11 student companies have been set up and are being run by students. This is giving them more experience and ideas for what they want to achieve once their complete their course at SERC.