Axita Limited showcased their latest Technology and Business Innovation to teens from across South Yorkshire after being invited to the Teen Tech event held at Doncaster Racecourse, hosted by Tomorrows World star Maggie Philbin. The event was aimed at raising awareness of the Technology and Engineering Sectors to Year 8 Students with many prominent businesses taking part (including Pegler Yorkshire, Efficiency North, Yorbuild, Newburgh Engineering, AESSEAL and Skanska).
“We were delighted to take part in such as fantastic event. Seeing and talking to all of the people was a refreshing and humbling experience” commented Alexander Van Steen, Managing Director of Axita Limited.
Axita were asked to take part in the ‘Challenge Zone’ where a bespoke task was given to six groups of children from different schools hosted in the Lazarus Suite at Doncaster Racecourse. Alexander Van Steen, Axita’s Owner also gave a 20 minute talk the day before on Entrepreneurship to contributing Companies, Teachers and their Heads of School and the Teen Tech team.
“We decided to set a Challenge based around Entrepreneurship. The students had ten minutes to create a new piece of technology, then 10 minutes to write a pitch and present it to Axita’s Directors in a Dragons Den style environment. We then decided which group of children from that particular school had the best idea; it was great fun both for us and the students!”
Among the schools attending was the McAuley Catholic High School. Students from the school were involved with one of Axita’s Challenges; a ‘circle of life’ moment for Alexander Van Steen and Paul Lowe who used to attend the school back in 2003 and were also taught by the attending Teacher, Mr Trevor Bruce.
“The Students thoroughly enjoyed themselves, especially trying to sell their ideas to the Dragon Panel. It was also fantastic to see now ex-students excelling and giving back to their old school and wider community. It seems like five minutes ago that they were in my class!”
Founded by Science broadcaster Maggie Philbin and the Chairman of the Institute of Directors (South) Chris Dodson Teen Tech events are a unique collaboration bringing together key professional organisations to create a very special experience for young people.
“Teen Tech is very collaborative; that’s what makes it work!” said Maggie on the day. “Alexander helped both students and teachers alike understand what it really means to be an entrepreneur and Axita as a Company also ran a brilliant interactive challenge for the young people in the Lazarus Suite. His insight was greatly valued and added a youthful entrepreneur perspective to the event; he told a powerful story, really well! It’s so important teenagers understand that the skills which make them attractive to a tech employer can also help them set up a thriving business”
The event was a massive success with over 1000 young people taking part and Axita pledging to become further involved with Teen Tech and with Maggie herself in the future.
