Young designers from Bushey Meads School get seal of approval from Duncan Bannatyne (From Watford Observer)

Young designers from Bushey Meads School get seal of approval from Duncan Bannatyne

4:26pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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A group of young entrepreneurs from a Bushey school have won a national competition judged by, among others, Dragons' Den's Duncan Bannatyne.

Emmie Rayat, Deryn Hertz and Taylar Leak from Bushey Meads School, in Coldharbour Lane, joined pupils from across the country in entering the One Big Idea competition.

The creative teenagers were asked to design a product that could be sold in selected Co-operative stores, the profits of which will go to funding humanitarian projects in Malawi.

Emmie, 15, said: “We were so shocked when we found out we had won, we all just burst in to laughter.

“It's really surreal, we were pretty overwhelmed.”

Their product, called One Less Infection, is a box of plasters displaying facts about problems in Malawi as well as graphics of animals found in the country.

The girls chose the product as the disease can be spread through open cuts.

Taylar, 16, said: “We have only ever designed things in class but nothing that was going to be entered into a competition.

“Our class mates still can't believe we won.”

Among the judges was chief executive of The Co-operative Group, Peter Marks, who said the product was so good, he would expand its sale across Co-op stores nationwide.

An official presentation was held in Birmingham where the pupils were invited to talk about their product in front of 300 guests.

Business studies teacher Mrs Pinkus said: “I am so incredibly proud of them and increasingly proud when I think what an incredible difference it will make to the people in Malawi.”

The school arranged a special assembly on Monday, February 15, where headteacher Keith Douglas presented the girls with a book and the glass trophy in front of their class mates.

Deryn, 15, said: “I don't know if it was easier speaking in front of the 300 people or 50 of our class mates.”

The young designers are now waiting to hear from The Co-operative to help in the production process of their product.

Deryn added: “Helping the product development is really exciting, we are all looking forward to it.”

The winning design can be viewed at www.onedifference.org.