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Winners of the LCACE Business Concept Competition

Following on from our successful Enterprise Summer School, we are delighted to announce the winners of its recent Business Concept Competition for students seeking to develop cultural or creative industries focussed businesses.  The competition required students to produce a business plan and pitch their business concept to a panel of judges from the cultural and creative sectors. The judges included: Hilary Carty (Director, Culture and Education, London 2012), Rob Grover (Network Manager, Business Link for London) and Jane Austin (Managing Director of Recollective Media)

Former Goldsmiths students Marc Cameron and Michelle Akande saw their belief in their magazine 'Seven' realised when they won first prize. The pair, who have just finished their studies on the MA in Journalism Studies, had grown tired of the usual material that features in magazine and developed the concept of Seven magazine, a publication that deals with 'serious issues from the seven continents' and is defined as 'Vanity Fair meets the social consciousness of Time magazine'. The intent of the publication is to address key issues and feature film, arts, cultural and music reviews from around the globe. To date they've interviewed the likes of Turner prizewinner Chris Ofilli and politician and slayer of the US senate George Galloway and intend to add more famous interviews over the coming months. They are currently in the middle of talks for funding and are welcome to any offers to support the project. The concept is so strong that they have received help and support from Time Out magazine.

'We are particularly grateful to the college business development team, LCACE and our business advisor Ronan Fox at the New Cross Gate NDC who have all helped us to develop the project to the a stage where we are at', said Michelle. Group directors Marc and Michelle are currently developing an on-line version of the magazine with the help of top web design company Recollective.co.uk.' We hope to be online in a few months time and plan to go to print next summer', said Marc. They are currently looking for prospective writers that have something alternative to say. For further information contact sevenmc(at)another.com.

Second prize winner Summayah Sarodia is a student on the MA Metropolis and Empire course at Queen Mary's University.  Summayah's concept is to set up a company called Hayaa Hijaabs. According to her plan the company will 'provide Muslim women with a choice of products that will not only give themselves confidence, but also help to provide a more positive image of Muslim women in the wider eye of the public.' Her overall experience of the summer school was that it provided an invaluable support network. 'It wasn't just the work of the tutors that inspired me. The other students, my peers, were the ones who pushed me and gave me the motivation to get on with doing the business plan. Taking part in the competition and making the pitch was so important to me that in some respects winning was almost secondary. It is fantastic though and the money will enable me to develop a website and online identity for the business.'