Plastech Innovation, winners of SCI’s 2019 Bright SCIdea Challenge, have been awarded 'Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2019' by HRH The Duke of York.
Plastech Innovation’s mission is to contribute to a circular economy by diverting post-consumer waste plastic away from landfill and the natural environment. The Durham University students’ innovative recycling process turns plastic into a more sustainable sand substitute for concrete manufacture.
Earlier this year SCI recognised Plastech’s entrepreneurship at the second annual Bright SCIdea Challenge, awarding them £5,000 for their plastics-derived concrete business. The challenge is a national competition that allows university students to develop and showcase their entrepreneurial and business skills and to pitch their business plan to industry experts.
After winning the Bright SCIdea competition, Plastech Innovation, made up of Natasha Boulding, Philip Buckley and Scott Bush, has now also been recognised as 'Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 2019' by HRH The Duke of York.
The Duke of York Young Entrepreneur Award is an annual award, launched In May 2013, presented to students who have displayed remarkable entrepreneurship whilst at University.
The award was presented at the University of Huddersfield. Scott Bush of Plastech Innovation commented, ‘following the award ceremony, we got the chance to speak to The Duke about Plastech Innovation, where he showed great interest in our motivations.
The future is looking bright for Plastech; we will soon be the first Durham University student spinout, which has helped secure seed funding from the Northern Accelerator for a project starting in October, and we are currently looking for investment to do larger scaled prototyping.
Since winning the Bright SCIdea competition, we have gone onto win the Shell LiveWIRE Smarter Future Award in April, the Blueprint StartUp challenge at Durham University and most recently The Duke of York Young Entrepreneur Award 2019.
The support from the Bright SCIdea competition has not ended. We recently visited Bright SCIdea sponsors, Synthomer at their Harlow site; it was a very informative meeting and it is great to have their continued support.’
Related links:-
- The Bright SCIdea Challenge
- The 2019 Bright SCIdea final
- SCI Early Careers
- Interview: 2019 Bright SCIdea winners
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