A STUDENT entrepreneur at a specialist Coventry college has won a top prize for her canine business idea.
Bethany Braithwaite has been awarded the top prize by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), winning £150 for her unique business idea of offering dog owners a gift pack of treats and helpful tips.
Doggy Delights, Beth’s business, offers pet owners, a pick ‘n’ mix treat bag that includes a toy, a health product, a booklet with recipes, veterinary & training practice, along with a useful product for the owners, such as a paw cleaning cloth for the lucky pooch – all for less than £5.
The FSB in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull launched the award to celebrate and recognise local students aged 16 to 19, or those under 25 with special educational needs, who show a flair for enterprise and have set up a business and made some profit, or have an idea that could be turned into a successful venture.
The idea for Doggy Delights came to Beth as part of her business course – the creation of a mock website evolving into the business itself.
She intends to invest her £150 prize money from the FSB into her business.
Speaking about her success in the FSB awards, Beth said: “It is a real shock to receive this award, but I’m very proud of my achievement.
“It has given me a lot of confidence that it could actually work outside of a college project and to take the innovation forward.
“I’d really like to thank my tutor Alison for all of her encouragement and the FSB for this fantastic opportunity and investing in young people’s ideas.”
The FSB hopes the competition will help the students develop employability skills, including general attitude to work, communication and people skills, self-management and literacy.
FSB judge, Becki Coombe added: “The judges liked Bethany’s application because she has created a business using her experience and passion for a product, and because they felt it was a business that could be developed beyond the college environment.
“Her application was well presented and her plans for the future were ambitious.”
A further £300 will go to the student who is crowned the overall winner from Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull.
