Young Entrepreneurs Blaze Ahead with Help from Phoenix Natural Gas

Kathryn Dempster Simon Irvine And Mandy Nelson 2 E1488324665856

Young entrepreneurs from Bloomfield Collegiate School in Belfast are blazing ahead with a business new start-up, selling original, hand-made bandanas made from high visibility material provided by local company, Phoenix Natural Gas, to help keep dogs safe at night.

Hi Vis Hounds was set up by a group of nine dog loving girls from Bloomfield Collegiate School, who are participating in the Young Enterprise Company Programme, to promote dog safety in an ethical way. The company produces handmade high visibility clothing for dogs made from reused and recycled materials obtained from local companies including Phoenix Energy. 

Bloomfield Collegiate pupil and entrepreneur, Maeve Hollywood, said, “Every year, thousands of dogs are killed on our roads. Hi Vis Hounds was borne out of a group of like-minded pupils who decided to get together to help tackle this problem and, in turn, help the environment.

“Our main product, Blazing Bandanas, is aimed at dog-owners wanting to protect their pampered pooches and helps promote safety as well as the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.”

Mandy Nelson, Health Safety and Environmental Officer at Phoenix Energy said, “We are delighted to partner with Bloomfield Collegiate School to provide much needed high-vis materials, recycled from old personal protective equipment, and help support this excellent initiative.”

“Phoenix Energy recognises its environmental responsibilities within the areas we are serving and regularly engages in CSR activity. This project supports our corporate responsibility programme, known as LIFE, in terms of sustainability, environmental responsibility and supporting local education. We look forward to continuing the partnership with Bloomfield Collegiate and seeing additional products added to the range.”

Bloomfield Collegiate teacher, Simon Irvine, said, “As a school, we are very keen to encourage entrepreneurial and business skills in our pupils and we are very proud of our pupils for developing a successful and ethical business model.

“The girls have had the opportunity to participate in Young Enterprise’s ‘The Big Market’ held in St. George’s Market before Christmas, where they sold their entire stock and received a sizeable number of internet orders. During Young Enterprise Week, they also attended a trade fair at the Kennedy Centre in Belfast to sell their products. They had a successful day, not just in terms of trade, but we were delighted that High Vis Hounds also received awards for Best Marketing and Best Overall Company for their business skills, awarded by the Federation of Small Business.

“This is a fantastic accolade for the pupils and we look forward to continuing to run the company with help from local organisations and particularly Phoenix Energy.”

For more information on High Vis Hounds visit @hivishounds on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat.