The highly anticipated Test Valley Young Entrepreneurs Contest has come to a thrilling conclusion, revealing Rahmat Issah Ismail from The Romsey School as the winner of the competition.
Now in its second year, the contest, organised and run by Dmitrijs Meiksans, Director of The Local Marketing Company, gave young people from across the Test Valley area the opportunity to pitch their innovative business ideas and gain invaluable mentorship to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
The competition, which mirrors the challenges of the popular TV show The Apprentice, attracted 76 applications from enthusiastic young people across the Test Valley. After a rigorous selection process, the field was narrowed down to four finalists – two from Andover and two from Romsey. These finalists then competed in a series of business challenges designed to test their creativity, teamwork, and business skills.
The three young entrepreneurs who reached the final were:
Jacob Lawley from John Hanson Community School in Andover, pitched his 3D printing business and sought to expand and grow his already successful venture.
Yusif Issah Ismail Abubakar from The Romsey School, planned to start a photography and printing business, specialising in custom-printed merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, and more.
Rahmat Issah Ismail from The Romsey School, proposed creating a fencing club for children aged 8-12, aiming to make the sport more accessible and to break down the elitism often associated with it.
The contest concluded with a live final held on the evening of 21st March 2025, at The IncuHive Space in Andover, one of the sponsors of the contest. The event was attended by local dignitaries, entrepreneurs, sponsors, and influential community leaders, including the Worshipful Mayor of Test Valley, Mayoress, and The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP, Member of Parliament for North West Hampshire.
During the final, each contestant presented their business ideas to the attendees, which included prominent local business figures, mentors, and key sponsors. The young entrepreneurs had already demonstrated their abilities by completing fully-fledged business plans, taking part in a market stall exercise at the Chantry Centre, and engaging in several mentoring sessions.
After careful consideration by sponsors prior to the final, Rahmat Issah Ismail was named the winner of the contest, based on her perseverance, adaptability, and growth throughout the competition, as well as the potential for her business idea to make a meaningful impact on the local community. Rahmat’s idea – a fencing club for young children – aims to introduce the sport to a more diverse audience, providing an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment for young people to learn, grow, and engage in physical activity.
As the winner, Rahmat will receive a grand prize of £1,000 to help kickstart her business, as well as ongoing mentorship and support from the contest’s sponsors. Rahmat’s fencing club will offer weekly training sessions for children, playing a key role in her mission to make the sport more inclusive. She also plans to offer a pathway for young people to continue fencing as they grow, potentially mentoring others and passing on their skills to the next generation.
In addition to Rahmat, the other two finalists, Jacob and Yusif, will also benefit from continued mentorship and support from the contest’s sponsors and organisers. Although they didn’t win the top prize, their hard work and creative ideas will continue to be nurtured, and they will receive guidance and advice as they continue to develop their business ventures.
Dmitrijs Meiksans, the organiser of the contest, expressed his pride in the finalists and their entrepreneurial spirit. He said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to see these incredible young people make it to the final stages of the contest. Their determination, creativity, and passion at such a young age are truly inspiring. I want to offer a huge thank you to all of our sponsors, especially New Street Dental Care, for their continued support in helping these young entrepreneurs shape their ideas. Rahmat, you truly deserve to win, and I’m excited to work with you to bring your vision to life.”
The event’s sponsors played a vital role in helping the young contestants develop their business ideas, providing not only financial support but also valuable feedback and mentoring. The contest’s main sponsor, New Street Dental Care, along with other local businesses and organisations, provided both financial backing and hands-on involvement throughout the competition.
Dr Julian Chen (BDS Lond), of the contest’s main sponsors, New Street Dental Care, also praised the finalists, saying, “We’ve been thrilled to support such a fantastic initiative for the second year running. The level of innovation and creativity shown by all the contestants has been outstanding, and we’re proud to have played a part in helping these young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Test Valley Young Entrepreneurs Contest in the years ahead.”
In addition to New Street Dental Care being the main sponsor, the contest was also sponsored by business sponsors; The DeeDee Trust, The Local Marketing Company Ltd, The IncuHive Space and Bulpitt Print, as well as local authority sponsors; Andover Town Council, Romsey Town Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.
