Enterprise Days inspire future entrepreneurs at South Essex Colleges Group

Business students at South Essex Colleges Group were given an exciting taste of the entrepreneurial world during a series of dynamic Enterprise Days held at Southend City and Thurrock Colleges.

The events were led by renowned motivational speaker Adam Corbally, who rose to prominence after reaching the final of season eight of the popular television show The Apprentice in 2012. Since then, Adam has built a successful career as a professional speaker, inspiring young people across the UK to unlock their potential and think creatively about business.

Across two high-energy days, students worked in teams to develop and pitch their own business ideas in a competitive, Dragon’s Den-style challenge. From branding and marketing strategies to slogans and jingles, learners were tasked with transforming their initial concepts into fully realised business proposals.

The final pitches were delivered to a panel of judges that included Southend City Principal Nicki Kelly and Thurrock Principal Brad Brooks, who were impressed by the innovation, professionalism and confidence demonstrated throughout the competition.

At Southend City College, Amber Blows and Ashton Deven secured first place with their standout business idea, impressing the judges with their creativity and presentation skills.

Meanwhile, at Thurrock College, the winning team comprised Chana Ngaongam, Precious Anodo, Rasheedat Aderibigbe, Sobia Rahimi, Airada Phanthang and Razvan Mocanu, whose collaborative approach and strong pitch earned them the top spot.

Reflecting on the experience, Adam Corbally praised both students and staff for their enthusiasm and commitment: “I loved being back at South Essex Colleges Group, two sites, two days, two brilliant groups of students. From the word go, energy was high, engagement was spot on and the ideas were seriously impressive. I love watching the confidence grow throughout the day, turning passion into profit, creating logos, slogans, jingles, full marketing campaigns and then stepping up to deliver their business pitches with real confidence. Supporting students with their communication and presentation skills is a huge part of the event and they absolutely rose to the challenge. Massive credit to the staff, their involvement, encouragement and energy make such a difference and help create an environment where students really thrive.”

The Enterprise Days provided students with a valuable opportunity to develop key employability skills, including teamwork, communication and problem-solving, while gaining a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in business.

South Essex Colleges Group continues to prioritise real-world learning experiences such as these, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future careers and equipped with the confidence to turn their ideas into reality.