Young Enterprise Team “Our Final Straw” Joins the Podcast

Young Enterprise competitors Our Final Straw join us on this week’s podcast. Last week, we had another team in the competition, County Colour. They come from the same school that Graham attended, just a few years back! Welcome to Jasmine Keith and Natalia Basaraba from South Craven School!

Our Final Straw sell bamboo straws which come with a type of pipe-cleaner and they throw in smoothie recipes to use the straws with! Additionally, they sell bamboo toothbrushes, which we heard a lot about on our podcast with Chris Fous or Woobamboo – episode 96.

Jasmine and Natalia are part of a 6 person team, whittled down from an original 14! They are the stayers! The team has 5 girls and one boy. The boy is HR director, so by the looks of the staff reduction, he’s had his work cut out!

Young Enterprise Competition

Our Final Straw will be competing at York on Wednesday 8th May 2019. At the time of the original competition the team hadn’t got off the ground in terms of sales. However, they have now. They have joined plastic free Facebook groups, and they have since sold 20 straws online.

What is a Bamboo Straw

An ordinary straw made from environmentally friendly. Thicker than a normal straw. The last a long time. You can also put them in dishwashers. The pipe cleaner helps you clean it regularly.

The Idea

8.5bn straws are used every year in the UK. This inspired the team. It is a small change and that’s better of nothing.

They added free recipes. A perfect way to use the straw. They promote a healthy lifestyle. They are all smoothie recipes. The recipes were made up by the team. In fact, the customers really like the recipes.

The Team

Natalia is finance director controlling inflows and outflows. Jasmine is secretary. Charlotte is MD, Nya is Marketing and Max is HR and Pippa in Customer Services.

The Product

They buy the straws from different wholesalers and cleaners from other sources. Then they package everything up.

Our Final Straw won the Young Enterprise trade stand competition. Nationally!

What are the Benefits?

Confidence, professionalism. Knowing how to speak to the public, and how to run parts of the business. Year 12, Lower Sixth.

So here are a few images of former South Craven School pupil Graham Arrowsmith around the time…!!

Too much?

Probably, but I enjoyed seeing myself thin and with hair again!

South Craven school teacher Mr Light also gets a mention. He allows the team use his room for meetings. And he took a driving test to be able to take the team to the next round in York! Well done him.

Are the Girls Vegan?

Watch the video to find out!

Publicising Our Final Straw

They have access to a shopping mall in Skipton called Craven Court. How did people respond? Local people were really supportive. Something has to be done about plastic. This commitment really helps their sales.

A small change makes a huge difference.

The team has also sold a large order with Skipton Building Society for their sustainable shop in their canteen.

Thank you to Jasmine Keith and Natalia Basaraba from South Craven School.

The next 100 days podcast is brought to you by Kevin Appleby and Graham Arrowsmith