This term saw the highly anticipated return of the Headmaster’s Business Award 2026, an exciting entrepreneurship competition that invited pupils to develop and pitch innovative business ideas. This year’s brief challenged students to reimagine the Sixth Form space, Marjorie’s Café, encouraging creative thinking around how the space could be transformed for the College community.
In a significant and welcome expansion, the competition was opened to pupils in Years 7–9, who competed in a newly introduced junior category, alongside senior students in Years 10–13. This broadened participation bringing a fresh wave of creativity, highlighting entrepreneurial talent across the school. Launching the competition, Head of Business Mrs Teuta Hill shared the Headmaster’s vision for enterprise within the College, inviting all students to submit ideas ranging from new products and services to entirely new uses of the café space. Pupils were encouraged to think not only about profitability, but also about how their ideas could benefit both Shiplake and the wider community.
Following weeks of preparation, the final took place on Thursday 4 June, where selected finalists presented their ideas to a judging panel comprising Mr Howe (Headmaster), Mr Crowe (OV (17O), Photography Teacher and Founder of Polar Media House), and Mrs Hill. The judges were highly impressed by the exceptional standard of presentations, with each team demonstrating innovation, careful planning, and strong business acumen.
Junior Category (Years 7–9)
The junior finalists showcased a diverse range of creative ideas:
- Mini Marjorie’s Mobile Café – Jake Butcher
A mobile version of the café, potentially housed in a converted horsebox, designed to serve different year groups throughout the week. Its portability would allow it to operate at sports matches on the Phillimore Fields and at school events. - Mini Pop Prints – Odette Edimoh and her business partner
A business producing small, 3D-printed fidget toys designed to improve concentration. Their products are quiet, durable, and classroom-friendly, addressing common issues associated with traditional fidget toys. - Tuck Shop – Mabel Reed-Ryan & Eva Walton
An expanded café concept featuring a student-run tuck shop operating on a rotating basis between lower school and Sixth Form pupils. The space could also host tutoring, counselling sessions, and themed events such as movie nights.
After careful deliberation, the judges awarded:
- Winner: Mini Pop Prints – for its originality, clear target market, and practical application.
- Runner-up: Mini Marjorie’s Mobile Café - an excellent idea that has already come to fruition in the form of Frank’s Horsebox Café, a concept the Marketing and Community Development team had been developing separately.
Senior Category (Years 10–13)
Senior finalists demonstrated equally impressive entrepreneurial thinking:
- Shiplake’s Vending Machine – Year 12 student & Ella Shraga. A vending machine offering snacks and drinks throughout the day, reducing queuing times and providing access outside café opening hours.
- Shiplake Marketplace – George Silver, Luke Waldegrave & Jack Prosser. A dynamic concept transforming Marjorie’s Café into a marketplace and entrepreneurship hub, where students and local vendors could showcase and sell products and services.
- School Equipment Vending Machine – Hadley Sargent & Elliot Lloyd. A practical solution to everyday classroom challenges, offering essential equipment such as pens, calculators, and glue sticks.
The results were:
- Winner: Shiplake Marketplace - recognised for its ambitious vision, community impact, and strong commercial potential
- Runner-up: Shiplake’s Vending Machine - a practical and well-considered solution to improve accessibility, with clear benefits for the whole school community.
Reflecting on the event, Mrs Hill praised the remarkable achievements of all involved: “The standard was truly exceptional… Every finalist should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved; the quality of ideas, preparation, and presentation this year has been outstanding.”
The Headmaster’s Business Award 2026 once again proved to be a fantastic platform for pupils to develop key skills in innovation, presentation, and enterprise. With such a high calibre of ideas and an expanded field of participants, the future of entrepreneurship at Shiplake looks brighter than ever.
