Misbourne pupils tune in to top award (From This Is Local London)

Misbourne pupils tune in to top award

11:30am Wednesday 20th May 2009

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STUDENTS behind a new radio station have been named the best young entrepreneurs in the county.

The creators of Chance FM, based at the Misbourne School in Great Missenden, beat off competition from 70 other entries at the Buckinghamshire Young Enterprise competition.

They will now go forward to the south east regional final in Horsham, West Sussex, on June 18 following their success at the Open University building in Milton Keynes on Sunday night.

Chance FM's marketing manager Oliver Ingram – who is also Head Boy at Misbourne – said: “We had to set up our own company and decided to do something we were all interested in – all the group are interested in music.

“We all bought shares in the company as we thought it was a good idea to go with.

“We started broadcasting on January 21 and since then we've had over 20,000 listening hours and nearly 3,000 unique listeners.”

He added: “What we are very proud of is the fact it's made by students for students. It's the first commercial student radio station in the country.

“We pride ourselves on having as much music as possible and little talking. Our research shows students don't like a lot of talking on the radio.”

The team of Year 12 students made it through to the county final after winning the Chiltern Young Enterprise award earlier this year.

They have had help from successful businesspeople in setting up their project – and have also employed the services of professional voiceover artist Phillipa Collins, who has recorded some of the links for the station.

The team had to make a presentation to judges as part of the contest.

Oliver said: “We thought we weren't going to get anywhere but we had people who have been in business come in and help us.

“We were so nervous. We wanted it so much because we had put so much effort into this.”

The students won awards for best overall company, best innovative product and best use of IT. They also received runners-up prizes for marketing and best presentation.

Money raised from advertising has been re-invested back into the station and the school.

“We've had a lot of backing from the headteacher and the school,” said Oliver. “They gave us the room to have our studio.”

He added: “I and a couple of others have an interest in business and would love to continue down this sort of pathway in the future.”

To listen to the station, go to http://chanceradio.co.uk.

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