This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

Bright Young Things finalists (left to right) Becky Machon, Katie Vidamour, Danielle Reid, James Turner, Helen Young, Autumn Curtis-Summers and Jim Rowe. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0572117)

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS has been hailed a resounding success by its mentors. The Schroders-sponsored entrepreneur contest, similar to TV’s Dragons’ Den, was a hit with the 500-strong audience at St James on Tuesday night.

James Turner and his team took home £5,000 for winning with their youth project business Street Academy. Schroders CEO Julian Winser said the private bank had ‘created a monster’.

‘It worked so well from everybody’s perspective. It’s going to be difficult to repeat the success. We will have to work three times as hard to have the same impact next time, although there will never be a first one again.’

Improvements could be made, said Mr Winser.

‘There was a huge difference between the community-focused entrepreneurs and the more profit-minded businesses and people are already saying that we need to make a distinction in terms of judging.’

There was also the possibility of allowing people aged over 30 to enter, but a youth focus would always be a permanent feature of the contest, said Mr Winser.

‘There have been some suggestions that we need one or two female mentors and I quite agree.

‘I would love to see women like Dame Mary Perkins and Gina Le Prevost taking part because they exude such phenomenal energy in driving their businesses forward.’

Businessman and mentor Tom Scott said he was proud to have been involved in the contest.

‘I thought the whole evening was a total success. It was the first one and all the entrepreneurs were nervous, but they put a lot of effort into it.

‘Street Academy was a deserving winner and I like James Turner’s style and energy.

‘It came out with a twist because a business for the benefit of the Guernsey community won and I hope the States looks at it and supports it.’

Mr Scott took a more cynical approach when questioning the young entrepreneurs on stage by challenging them about their finances.

‘I enjoyed it immensely, as did all the mentors, but I chose to take more of a Simon Cowell role. It wasn’t planned, but perhaps I was the most suited to it because I seem to have this hard image.

‘I had to expand people’s thinking as that was what I was there for. I threw down a few challenges and some of them bounced back well.’

Fellow mentor Simon Torode agreed that the right business had won.

‘There was something about James and his team that won

my vote – they were so happy backstage.

‘He had never spoken before publicly, which just goes to show how much he believes in his product.’

Derek Coates has vowed to keep helping Street Academy and the other mentors will do what they can, said Mr Torode.

‘Bright Young Things was such a success, it could only grow in the future. It’s definitely here to stay.’