Two teams of Salford Business School students have been selected to progress to the prestigious Young Enterprise Start-Up regional finals, which will take place for the North West on the 26 February at the University of Liverpool.
The Young Enterprise competition recognises and rewards student entrepreneurs who are paving the way in innovation and pioneering business concepts, with teams pitching their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges for a place on the coveted UK final later this year. During the UK final, teams pitch for a place in the European final where they will compete against their peers from across the continent. In 2022, Salford Business School students, Jake Naylor, Jordan Hall and Arran McDonald, won for their biodegradable and affordable ear protection business, hearNprotect, beating competition from 375,000 students from 42 countries across Europe.
This year’s teams, Mashqah and What2Cook, made up of Salford students, Fatima Begum, Scott Cleverley, Abdoulaye Diabate, Johnny Seddon, Alexander Fitzgerald and Adam Woosey, have worked tirelessly to create businesses that focus on driving sustainability, a key focus point within teaching across the school.
Team Mashqah’s mission is simple: to eliminate the need for multiple bottles by offering one that can carry both hot and cold drinks, cutting down on plastic waste and shoulder strain.
Fatima Begum, one of the young entrepreneurs who helped develop the concept for Mashqah, alongside her teammates Scott and Abdoulaye, said: “Like many students, I was juggling multiple drinks and a lunchbox – until the coffee spilt, the tuna leaked, and the stench took over. After that mess, I realised how perfect it would be to have a bottle that could hold both hot and cold drinks.”
Not only does Mashqah’s innovative idea reduce plastic waste, plus save space in your bag, it’s also a game changer for those managing multiple liquid medications, offering practical, everyday convenience.
Founders of Mashqah, Fatima, Scott and Abdoulaye, also pledged to repair any bottles that become damaged after long-term use, supporting customers to live more sustainably, while saving them money and ultimately, protecting the environment from old products going to landfill. Fatima continued: “It’s our way of keeping you, and the planet, covered.”
Salford’s other team of budding entrepreneurs, made up of students Johnny, Alexander and Adam, have established a business that helps people, in particular low-income families and students, to save money by making the most of food that they already have at home. They hope that the business will reduce food waste, make cooking easier and more accessible, whilst promoting a more sustainable way of living.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food waste accounts for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and generates 8% of greenhouse gases annually, highlighting the severity of the issue and the critical need for change.
On the idea behind the business, Johnny said: “The inspiration came from seeing just how much food gets wasted every day while so many people are struggling with rising costs. We wanted to create something that not only saves money, but also helps people to feel more confident in the kitchen. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – you can make great meals with what you already have.”
What2Cook stands out from many other recipe companies due to how personal and flexible it is. Instead of searching for recipes with long shopping lists, What2Cook focuses on what is already in your kitchen.
Dr Jonathan Owens, Young Enterprise Lead and Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at Salford Business School, commented: “We’ve had some incredible success with Young Enterprise in recent years and, after seeing this year’s student teams in action, we’re confident it could be another great year for the University.
“At Salford Business School, we have been really working to ingrain entrepreneurial learning and sustainability into our teaching, to help nurture the ethical and environmentally conscious business leaders of tomorrow. It’s great to see that these values are already shining through in our students’ entrepreneurial ideas.”