BEST TEAM 2011 MID GLAMORGAN AREA BOARD
              CHELSEA McANDREW- OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO A TEAM 2011 

Within the Leaver’s department of YTC, our vision was to create and develop an innovative and ethically aware company – this was the beginning of Red House Enterprise. 
Initially, our strategic goal was to develop a cookbook targeted at young adults with learning difficulties, however in order to fund the cookbook we sought to exploit a gap in the local market for high quality, environmentally friendly stationary – which would be primarily aimed at people with special needs but would also appeal to the wider market. We currently specialise in calendars and greeting cards and continue to develop our cook book. 

Following extensive market research in September 2009 we first identified the gap within the greeting card and calendar market. We took this opportunity to capitalise on this – designing and producing our own range with a bespoke feel using images based on Makaton in order to target our agreed primary target market of people with learning difficulties.  

At present our cookbook is also in production – this is a pivotal moment for our company and all personnel involved.  The profits raised from the success of our cards and calendars has enabled us to invest in this development. All our previous ranges and offerings have led us to this moment, and we have drawn upon our expert knowledge within this market to create something which will see further expansion of our enterprise. The cookbook will be aimed at people, like ourselves, with special educational needs, to prepare healthy snacks and meals. 

We are also trialling car-washing facilities within our school – valeting cars and mini buses – and are again looking to invest some of our returns on the necessary equipment and materials to develop this during the summer and spring months. 

Extensive internal and external market research was carried out to help us understand the market and what products we would produce. Our main target groups were members of staff, taxi drivers and their escorts, parents and members of the public. All of our products used were environmentally friendly.  Where possible we made our products tri –lingual- using Makaton, Welsh and English. 

We have had the opportunity to sell our products in many different places such as McArthur Glen Retail Outlet, Coleg Morganwwg (Pontypridd Campus), Garth Olwg Life Long Learning Center, Efail Iiaf Christmas fate and the Wales Millennium  Centre, and have had overwhelming sales.During our school’s Transition Evening, Christmas concerts and Carol Service we were also fortunate enough to have stalls in order to showcase and promote our products. 

As a company we made the decision not to sell shares. This is because we did not think that it was ethical that one group or person would benefit from our company. As a team we decided that our profits would be split between local and national charities and the Leavers Prom fund. 

Corporate Social Responsibility is at the heart of Red House Enterprises. We wanted our local and wider community to benefit from our company. We have undertaken a number of innovative initiatives.

These have included:-

Ø   Collecting items for our troops in Iraq and   Afghanistan
Ø   Fundraising for Children in need
Ø   Fundraising for Comic Relief
Ø   Go Red Day for the British Heart  Foundation
Ø   Pink Day for Breast Cancer Awareness
Ø   Male Students and Male Leavers took part  in Movember. 

Through Young Enterprise students  have gained a number of invaluable skills, including decision making, ICT and problem-solving.

Here are some useful links:

 http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/ 

http://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/wales 

http://www.youngenterprise.org.uk/programmes/secondary_and_further_education/team_programme