Swimwear business triumphs at Enterprise Awards
A SPORTS science graduate from Sheffield Hallam University swept the board at this year’s Enterprise Challenge event.
Sarah Livesey’s business, Freestyle Swimwear, won the £5,000 main prize at the Sheffield Hallam University’s Enterprise Challenge awards ceremony for her venture, together with a £2,000 award for Best Manufacturable Product.
The graduate said she got the idea for her company when she worked at a swimming pool during her studies and witnessed some unusual outfits for swimming.
She also won the audience vote on the night for her swimwear for the body conscious, which will target online markets and the high street.
Livesey, who graduated in 2008 with a BSc (Hons) Sport Science with coaching, said: “Many people wish to cover their body whilst in public, with swimming being a particular issue. Freestyle Swimwear’s mission is to allow people to feel comfortable and confident with a product that is stylish and easy to swim in.”
There were also prizes on the night for Faustine Le Berre’s design business Midnight Fest and Jonathan Drury and Katie Owens, who are manufacturing a healthy sandwich spread called MillaVit.
The competition, now in its 13th year, attracted 127 entries from Sheffield Hallam students and graduates and was whittled down to a final five by judges including representatives from regional businesses such as Gripple, hlw, Irwin Mitchell and Finance Yorkshire.
Sheila Quairney, business and enterprise manager at the University’s research and innovation office, said: “The quality of the businesses was exceptionally high and it was great to see so many women among the finalists. Many of our young entrepreneurs are addressing social and emotional concerns as well.”
The other finalists on the night were Landlord Letting Network, a letting agency which specialises in letting properties to tenants who are claiming welfare benefits and would otherwise be unable to find a mainstream landlord or letting agent.
Brothers Paul and Sam Adewunmi have formed Talk2Solicitors.co.uk, who will provide online legal advice which is affordable, accessible and simple to obtain.
This year’s guest speaker was Julie Kenny, who went from being a secretary to creating one of the UK’s leading electronic security manufacturers, Pyronix. She was awarded the 2013 Business Woman of the Year earlier this month.
The annual competition for former Sheffield Hallam students was sponsored by hlw Keeble Hawson solicitors, manufacturer Gripple, Load Hog, Finance Yorkshire and Electric Works.
