Graduates team up to make their green dream a reality/Gwireddu breuddwyd graddedigion am fusnes gwyrdd

A trio of Swansea students didn’t just bond over their passion for the planet, they went on to a forge fantastic new idea for a green business of their own.

Joe Sevenoaks, Emily MacAulay and Rhiannon Barriball have just graduated from Swansea University but will continue to work together as they build up their firm Easily Eco.

The venture started, thanks to the University’s first ever £100 Challenge initiative during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2018. It saw small teams of students given £100 and the chance to make as much profit as possible in four weeks, provided their idea was legal and ethical.

Management graduate Joe, Emily and Rhiannon who both studied geography, used their £100 I cash to buy stock to make up plastic-free hampers which they sold at a pop- up Christmas market at the University.

They went on to sell at other locations around Swansea including Mumbles and Uplands markets and as well as at a pop-up shop on campus supported by the Students Union.

The team then entered Easily Eco into the University’s Big Pitch competition which saw them line up alongside other young entrepreneurs to present 25 business ideas to a panel of industry judges.

It was one of seven successful businesses chosen to receive £1,250 seed corn funding which has been used to create a website and help it go from strength to strength.

Joe said: “We are so pleased we have been able to extend the range of products on offer – and none of it would have been possible without the University’s Enterprise Team.”

Emily added: “The help we have had has made all difference. The team’s fantastic events have given us the courage to turn our passion into a business. We are excited in continuing our journey further with the help of the seed funding.”

Entrepreneurship Officer Kelly Jordan said: “It was a privilege to support students who are so committed to encouraging others to be more environmentally aware. This social enterprise has already had a phenomenal impact at the University.”

University Head of Engagement, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Emma Dunbar said she was delighted to see the competition support and help create new student entrepreneurs.

 “With the recent launch of our Student Entrepreneurship Strategy, we recognise the importance to provide our students with opportunities to test and validate their business ideas in a safe environment, gain valuable real life experiences and to develop their skills to meet the challenges ahead.”

Emilysaid: “Now we have graduated we intend to stay in Swansea, continuing to have an impact on the region, our next target is to have our own branded products and have our own shop in the future.”

Gwireddu breuddwyd graddedigion am fusnes gwyrdd

 Mae tri o fyfyrwyr  Prifysgol Abertawe, a ddaeth ynghyd dros eu hangerdd am y blaned, wedi datblygu syniad gwych newydd am fusnes gwyrdd eu hunain.

Mae Joe Sevenoaks, Emily MacAulay a Rhiannon Barriball newydd raddio o Brifysgol Abertawe ond byddant yn parhau i weithio gyda’i gilydd wrth iddynt ddatblygu eu cwmni, sef Easily Eco.

Sefydlwyd y cwmni diolch i fenter Her gyntaf y Brifysgol gwerth £100 yn ystod Wythnos Ryngwladol Entrepreneuriaeth 2018. Rhoddwyd £100 i dimau bach o fyfyrwyr yn rhan o’r Her a’r cyfle iddynt wneud cymaint o elw ag oedd yn bosibl mewn pedair wythnos – cyhyd â bod eu syniad yn gyfreithiol ac yn foesegol.

Defnyddiodd Joe, sy’n graddio o’r Ysgol Reolaeth, ac Emily a Rhiannon (a astudiodd Daearyddiaeth) eu £100 i brynu stoc i greu eu basgedi di-blastig er mwyn eu gwerthu mewn marchnad dros dro’r Nadolig yn y Brifysgol.

Aethant ymlaen i werthu mewn lleoliadau eraill yn Abertawe, gan gynnwys marchnadoedd y Mwmbwls a’r Uplands, yn ogystal â siop dros dro ar y campws gyda chefnogaeth gan Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

Wedi hynny, cymerodd y tîm Easily Eco ran yng nghystadleuaeth The Big Pitch y Brifysgol. Aethant benben ag entrepreneuriaid eraill i gyflwyno 25 o syniadau busnes i banel o feirniad yn y diwydiant.

Dyma un o’r 7 o fusnesau llwyddiannus a ddewiswyd i dderbyn £1,250 o arian sbarduno, sydd wedi’i ddefnyddio i greu gwefan a’i helpu i fynd o nerth i nerth.

Dywedodd Joe: “Rydym mor falch ein bod wedi gallu ehangu’r amrywiaeth o gynnyrch a gynigir – ni fyddai hyn oll wedi bod yn bosibl heb Dîm Entrepreneuriaeth y Brifysgol.”

 Ychwanegodd Emily: “Mae’r cymorth rydym wedi’i gael wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr. Mae digwyddiadau gwych y Tîm Entrepreneuriaeth wedi rhoi’r dewrder inni droi ein hangerdd yn fusnes. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at ddatblygu ein siwrnai ymhellach gyda chymorth yr arian sbarduno.”

 Dywedodd y Swyddog Entrepreneuriaeth, Kelly Jordan: “Roedd yn fraint cefnogi’r myfyrwyr hyn sydd wedi ymrwymo’n llwyr i annog eraill i fod yn fwy ymwybodol o’r amgylchedd. Mae’r fenter gymdeithasol hon eisoes wedi cael effaith syfrdanol ar y Brifysgol.”

Dywedodd Pennaeth Ymgysylltu, Arloesi ac Entrepreneuriaeth y Brifysgol, Emma Dunbar, ei bod hi wrth ei bodd o weld y gystadleuaeth yn cefnogi ac yn helpu i greu entrepreneuriaid newydd ymhlith myfyrwyr.

“Yn sgîl lansio ein Strategaeth Entrepreneuriaeth Myfyrwyr yn ddiweddar, rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd rhoi’r cyfle i’n myfyrwyr brofi a gwirio eu syniadau busnes mewn amgylchedd diogel, cael profiadau bywyd go iawn gwerthfawr a datblygu eu sgiliau i wynebu’r heriau sydd o’u blaenau.”

Ychwanegodd Emily: “Nawr ein bod ni wedi graddio rydym yn bwriadu aros yn Abertawe a pharhau i gael effaith ar ein rhanbarth. Ein targed nesaf yw creu ein cynnyrch â brand eu hunain ac agor ein siop yn y dyfodol.”