Cardiff and Vale College student Shakira’s Big Idea celebrated at Welsh Government event

Shakira Francis, a Level 3 Administration student at Cardiff and Vale College, has won a students’ award for Overall Best Business from the Welsh Government’s Youth Entrepreneurship Service for her social enterprise.

Shakira was at the final of Big Ideas Celebrated, a national competition aimed at finding and showcasing the best entrepreneurial talent among 16 to 25-year-olds in Wales. The competition, organised by the Welsh Government’s Youth Entrepreneurship Service, was held at Cardiff City Stadium.

Visage De La Mode, a scheme for shows and workshops with the purpose of boosting women and girls’ self-esteem, won the award for Overall Best Business in Further Education (FE). It had also been shortlisted in the Social Impact Award category.

Shakira, 18 and from Cardiff, had to deliver a one-minute pitch to panel of judges. These included South Wales Federation of Small Business Development Manager Neil Blockley, Doopoll co-founder Steve Dimmick, Cheryl Gourlay of NatWest and Tree Frog Digital Director Chris Grice.

As winner of Best Overall Business in FE, Shakira was presented with £350 and activity vouchers by Minister for Skills and Science Julie James.

“Visage De La Mode was shortlisted in the Social Impact Award category and also Overall Best Business Award in the FE category,” Shakira said. “I’m absolutely thrilled to receive the Overall Best Business Award in the FE category – Big Ideas Celebrated was a fantastic event with great opportunities to network and move my idea forward.”

Cardiff and Vale College’s Entrepreneurship and Enrichment team supported applications from three teams and three individual students. Two entries each were shortlisted in both Social Impact and Best Enterprise categories while Shakira was also shortlisted for Best Overall Business in FE. CAVC students from Business Administration, Hairdressing, Computing and IT battled it out in the finals.