The Sid Valley Business Awards are set to recognise a pair of young entrepreneurs.
Alex Hammond and Charlotte Hadfield are in the running for an accolade at tomorrow’s ceremony at the Victoria Hotel.
Alex and Charlotte are nominated for the Young Entrepreneur Award.
Despite being too young to drink alcohol, Alex has designed a website for Sidmouth Gin, which was made by his parents, John and Kirsty, at the Dairy Shop.
And Charlotte, 17, organised a wide variety of events to net £3,200 in a single year for a volunteering trip to Borneo.
“We don’t do much web design at school, but I’ve had some help,” said Alex, aged 15. “My teacher points me in the right direction and I go from there. It’s a project my dad asked me to do.
“I’ve had a couple of hiccups along the way. My friends think it’s weird I’m selling alcohol online – and you have to be 18 to go on the website.
“I think web design will be a hobby. I’m not 100 per cent sure what I want to do, perhaps some sort of aviation engineering.”
The duo are both at Sidmouth College. They also attend the same church group, but do not see each other as rivals for the award.
Charlotte said: “We were given two years to fundraise for our trip to Borneo, but I raised the full amount in one, with help from my mum. “Other people who went out are still paying back their parents.
“The trip was amazing, we did so many different things and learned so much.”
Charlotte did the Boxing Day swim, held bake sales and organised a fashion show, among many other events, to reach her total. She is now helping her younger sister, Emily, as she fundraises for her own trip to Borneo.
“I might like to go into event organising,” said Charlotte. “I also like the satisfaction of having a store and making cakes. It’s nice to be nominated for the award – it was a surprise.”
Sidmouth College co-principal Jim Ingham-Hill said: “Both Alex and Charlotte deserve the recognition of being nominated for this prestigious award.
“Both students are a credit to Sidmouth College. This nomination is testament to the dedication and commitment both students have shown towards their individual projects.
“I have no doubt that in years to come both Alex and Charlotte will be hugely successful in their chosen careers.”
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