Young Enterprise Team scoop award for Best Company

Students (L-R): Rhys, Josh, Amy, Hope (Managing Director), Alfie and Matiss, pictured with the star of their award winning book, our school dog, Lottie.

Cheltenham Bournside School’s Sixth Form Young Enterprise Team, B-WELL – the creators of the inspirational children's book ‘Molly and Lottie’s Forest Adventures’ – are celebrating after winning ‘Best Company’ in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire in the Young Enterprise County Competition.  

Bringing home the trophy for the first time, the entrepreneurial student team beat off competition from a wide range of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire state and independent schools and will now go on to compete in the Regional Southwest Final on Thursday 19th May. 

Their product, a book aimed at children aged 2-8, was written, illustrated and published by the students and is a story about Cheltenham Bournside School’s two black Labrador retrievers; Molly a qualified therapy dog, and her little sister Lottie, a puppy in training.  

The cover reads; "Our school dogs inspire us and we hope they inspire you too. The message of our story is to be less judgemental and more loving and accepting, just like Molly and Lottie. Our moral is to always be kind and help others." 

B-WELL impressed the independent judging panel at the event in Bath with their confident presentation and well-considered enterprise project, not only winning The County Schools Young Enterprise Final, but also taking home The Young Enterprise Financial Management Award and The Young Enterprise Social Responsibility Award. 

Manging Director of the student team, Hope Jones, said; “The judge’s feedback was really positive, commenting that we could go far with our product. We were proud to hear it described as ‘inspiring’ and that our message was clear – to ask people for help, to step out of your comfort zone and to be brave in communicating after being confined during lockdown.” 

“Taking part in the Young Enterprise competition has been brilliant. We have all learnt new skills, whether it was learning how to use a new app, analysing our finances, or learning how to work together effectively as a team.” 

Fellow team member, Amy Heslop, said; “For the first time, Cheltenham Bournside School has made history and won best in county! We are both immensely proud and extremely grateful to have won this round of competition. Life after lockdown has shown us three things; learning is important, reading is important, and the two together are key for positive mental health and belonging – that is what underpins our book. 

“We are in awe of the fierce support from our community as we come to realise this is only the beginning for B-WELL. We cannot wait to see what the future holds!” 

Leo Kelly, Head of Business, Economics and Law, said “The staff are incredibly proud of B-WELL for writing and digitally illustrating a professional standard book, which they passionately believe will enrich young people’s imaginations. The book is also in memory of Molly, our much loved first school dog, who sadly passed away during the book’s creation.” 

“Huge congratulations to Amy, Hope, Matiss, Alfie, Edie, Rhys, Eve, Josh, Archie, Mia, Mikey, Jim and Josh!” 

You can help the students by purchasing a copy of their book for just £4.99. Visit http://www.mollyandlottie.com/ to find out more.