A team of student entrepreneurs have successfully entered the world of business after their company, Vindex, sealed a deal to supply branded promotional merchandise to Celton Manx.
The global online sportsbook operator came to the attention of the students when they were one of the teams taking part in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style challenge organised by Junior Achievement at their school, Queen Elizabeth II High School, where the judging panel of business professionals included Celton Manx head of business development Mike Stanton.
The Dragon’s Den sessions are arranged in the run-up to the final of Junior Achievement’s company programme which requires student teams to form and run a company over the course of the academic year, marketing and financing a product or service and, ideally, making a profit.
The nine-strong team behind Vindex includes general manager Cameron Avery, 16. ‘Like anybody else in the competition it was quite daunting sitting in front of people in the real business world, asking them to buy our products. But when Mike said that he was interested, it was quite exciting. Celton Manx was very precise in the specifications for their products which made the process a lot easier.
‘As they were the first company to show interest in us we were keen to deliver quality assured products. However, because Celton Manx was such a huge help, the whole process went smoothly and successfully.’
In charge of IT for Vindex is 17-year-old Dan Martin who explained: ‘Vindex aims to strengthen ties between business and charities by sourcing and supplying corporate merchandise and Celton Manx agreed to place an order with us ahead of two charity events they’re sponsoring.’
The deal will see participants in the Easter Festival of Running sporting Celton Manx-branded sweat bands and players in the Cruse Bereavement Care golf day in May using golf towels that also bear the company’s logo, both products supplied by Vindex.
Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘In our dealings with the Vindex team Mike and I have been impressed by their professionalism and entrepreneurial spirit, which augurs well for their future in business.
‘We were also pleased to be connected once again with Junior Achievement whose work in equipping young people with work readiness skills we applaud.
‘Dan, Cameron and the rest of the company have adopted a business model that, in some ways, echoes that of Celton Manx, namely to develop meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships between the corporate world and the local community in which they operate. As sponsors of the Easter Festival of Running and the Cruse Bereavement Care charity golf day Celton Manx is delighted to be able to give Vindex a “sporting chance” and we wish their enterprise every success.’
Photo - Bill Mummery, Executive Director, Celton Manx with Dan Martin and Cameron Avery, who are both students at QEII High School.
