Upcycling a tenner

West Norfolk Woodshop is a new business set up by two Year 8 boys as part of the four-week Tenner Challenge.

Tenner is a National Enterprise Challenge, helping thirteen year old students to develop an enterprising mindset and prepare for the world of work as students aim to make a business work with a £10 start up fund.

Ethan Newton-Walters and Joshua Wylie attend Glebe House School in Hunstanton and for this challenge they chose to focus on reclaimed and natural inspired products. Joshua describes the start up on the website that he designed saying: “It all begins with an idea, we decided to participate in the young enterprise tenner challenge. Maybe we could design clothes, maybe we can rent supplies. Until collectively we decided to woodwork. Market research was conducted, positive feedback given and we decided on making coasters, place mats and cutting boards.

“Well the name, the name was the real challenge. We had a lot of bad names. We started on some strange suggestions and some non-professional ones. But we eventually settled on something clean, simple and professional: West Norfolk Woodshop.

“So our business was born and work could begin. We had work to get on with, wood to cut and sand, and websites and social medias to grow and create. This idea started because of the tenner challenge. But it became so much more!”

Sourcing their raw materials from charity shops, parents’ woodpiles and old pallets the boys have made a variety of products. Additionally their upcycling projects have included turning redundant laboratory equipment into stylish pieces for flower arranging and wooden boxes and draws have been repaired and restored.

Sales have been made and Joshua and Ethan plan to continue with the business when the challenge ends. They have booked a stall at the Purfleet craft fair at St Nicholas chapel in King’s Lynn on May 23^rd and hope to attend other craft events throughout the summer.

The Tenner challenge judges look for evidence of innovation, creativity and problem solving within all the awards along with stories of teamwork and personal development And the winners will be announced on will be announced on 8th April.

Visit the West Norfolk Woodshop website at: https://westnorfolkwoodshop.co.uk/