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Our Young Enterprise team have had huge success this term, participating in both the Sussex Company of the Year Contest and the South East YE Regional Finals. Since September, 13 Lower Sixth students have been working on their own business—Kuodo (Japanese for ‘luminosity’)—and fine-tuning their unique product: a handmade lightbox with interchangeable acrylic designs.  

Young Enterprise is a nationwide organisation that gives students the chance to set up a real business and to develop valuable entrepreneurial skills. The team have really gone from strength to strength since September; they have spent the year learning about all the different aspects of running a business, from production and marketing to pitching and sales. 

It has certainly been a challenge for the Lower Sixth to fit YE alongside everything else in their busy Hurst schedules, and there were many crunch points and tight deadlines along the way. This term has seen all their hard work come to fruition, though: they came away with the top prize at the Amex Stadium (Sussex YE Company of the Year) and secured the ‘Innovation Award’ at the Regional Finals in London. At both events, the judges praised the team’s unique product, striking branding, and slick presentation.  

The whole experience has been a hugely rewarding one for our students, and the team has developed many skills—resilience, organisation, and public speaking—which will serve them well far beyond this project. Congratulations to everyone who took part. A message from Mr Knowles, Teacher of Economics: “I’m very proud of all their hard work for what has not been a smooth or easy journey! I think they have all learned valuable lessons which will be of immense benefit to them in their futures, academic and workwise”.  

Keep up to date on all trips on the website and social media!