A WATERPROOF cookery book aimed at young people cooking for themselves on a budget has proved a recipe for success for these budding entrepreneurs.
This team of 12 sixth formers from Chelmsford County High School for Girls are heading for the regional final of this year's Young Enterprise award scheme, having won the Essex heat.
They wowed judges with their book called 'Square meals' which includes a host of recipes that are economical and nutritious, and has earned them a very healthy £200 profit.
Company leader Sophie Roche, 17, said: "We were delighted to win and can't wait to compete in the regional final.
"Since setting up our company, which we called Gestalt, in the autumn last year, we have enjoyed the process a huge amount, despite a continuous stream of setbacks. However, we have overcome these together.
"One of the hardest tasks was creating something that we thought the public would want to buy. Having sorted through a few ideas for a product, we settled on a simple student-suitable recipe book."
After coming up with the idea for the recipe book and getting the backing of local government organisation Love Food Hate Waste, which provided all the 30 recipes, the girls took to social media to spread the word.
Sophie explained: "Via Twitter and a dedicated website we have been able to broadcast to almost 4,000 people across Essex. This is something we never would have been able to imagine back in September.
"We were able to get across the USP of our book which is the paper we have printed it on is both waterproof and tear-proof, and it contains our special ingredients cards which can be cut out and slipped into a wallet or purse for the weekly shopping trip.
"At the beginning of the year we each put in £1 as share capital, we've now taken in over £800, more than £200 of which is profit."
Gestalt will head to Cambridge on Monday to represent Essex at the Young Enterprise Regional Final. If they win they will then go on to represent the East of England at the national finals.
