Organised by VU's Faculty of Business and Law, the I Plan a Business (iPAB) Awards provide an opportunity for secondary school students to demonstrate their business planning skills and win cash prizes.
Fine-tuned with the help of teachers from the Western Region of Melbourne, the aim was to connect the competition with the students' curriculum. Business studies teachers play an important role in supporting these awards by recommending students enter work from one of their subjects.
The Faculty of Business and Law has been encouraged by the number of schools and students who have entered the competition over the two years it has run, and sees see great promise for the competition in the future. Following are the 2010 winners and summaries of their projects:
- Best Business Plan (Year 10 Individual): John Dawson, Emmanuel College.
Product: the Hide-n-Dry, a towel with a hidden waterproof pocket on the underside. - Best Business Plan (Year 10 Group): Einar Dela Cruz, Simon Naval, Lorenzo Alforque; Emmanuel College.
Business: 'Your Sushi', a do-it-yourself sushi bar where customers to mix their favourite sushi ingredients to make their ideal sushi roll. 'Your Sushi' aims to become 'the sushi capital of Melbourne'. - Best Business Plan (Year 11 Individual): Ricky Mazaris, Mackillop Catholic Regional College.
Product: 'Artificial Grass Mats for Your Tractor or Lawn Mower'. The judges were impressed by level of detail in this business plan, including actually manufacturing and photographing a sample of his product. - Best Business Plan (Year 11 Group): Elise Latella and Stephanie Najdovski; Mackillop Catholic Regional College.
Business: Pier 59, a bar/night club. Focus on the best in quality entertainment and party atmosphere - and featuring world class acts. - Highly Commended Business Plan (Individual): Kristina Stojanovska, Sunshine College.
Business: Ilavo, a Mediterranean style lounge bar. Judges were impressed by with the thoroughness and presentation of her business plan. - Highly Commended Business Plan (Group): Thao Le, Linh Vu, Joseph Micallef, Jenny Luu, Linda Le and Kelly Vo; Sunshine College.
Business: iCREPE cafe - ipod, ipad, ipab, and now iCREPE! A cafe and coffee store specialising in crepes, coffees and desserts. Judges were impressed with the effort put into the business plan, which included store and menu descriptions. It is a business that they could quite easily imagine being a great success. - Melton Shire Council Best Business Plan - Melton District: Melton Christian College
Business: 'Coo Coo Caterers', a small business focussing on supplying secondary students and teachers with a variety of food and drinks.
The 2010 iPAB awards were sponsored by:
- The Western Bulldogs
- National Institute of Accountants
- Deloitte
- Leader Community Newspapers
- Melton Shire Council
