Wendover girl wins backing from Peter Jones for her business idea

Natasha Bates, 17 and from Wendover, has been crowned National Entrepreneur of the Year in the Dragon’s Den style final of the competition with her business Easy Read. The competition was organised by the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy.

The competition sees young people from all over the country pitch their business ideas to expert judges (Jess Butcher founder of TICK, Lord Karan Billmoria founder of Cobra Beer, Sherry Coutu CBE founder of Founders4Schools, Dean Richmond founder of Pets Corner and Ron McMurtrie Chief Marketing and Business officer for Sage), with Peter Jones himself crowning the winner.

Natasha, who is studying for a BTEC in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Amersham College, took the prestigious top prize of £5,000 and a Scholarship to Buckinghamshire University, with her ‘Easy Read’ system which helps people with dyslexia to read more easily. Easy Read is a key ring collection of 5 different coloured pieces of film or overlays, which once placed over text, help the reader to relieve ‘visual stress’, removing distortion, making the words align and much easier for someone with dyslexia to read. Sufferers can take a simple online test to determine which colour film which works best for them.

Struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia herself and falling behind throughout Primary School, Natasha had a reading age of 4 by the time she was 9 years old. She was 11 before she was properly diagnosed. She decided to turn her College project into a business idea to enable others who suffer to be helped more easily.

Natasha said, “I was really motivated to create a product that would help other children like me so that they don’t have to struggle as much as I did and feel embarrassed in class.

“I still feel very shocked and overwhelmed with happiness as I still can’t believe that this has happened. I would like to thank Shaun McCarthy, The Window Film Company in Chesham for making my product and the Peter Jones Academy for giving me this opportunity.”

“I was seriously impressed by Natasha’s pitch. She’s taken her own experiences to create a product with real commercial potential.” Peter Jones CBE, Head of Trustees, Peter Jones Foundation

‘’The Judges were bowled over by both the excellent presentation and fantastic branding of this product. But more so, they were inspired by an incredible pitch that won over both their hearts and minds, with a real commercial opportunity that could also change people’s lives.’’ Jonny Sobczyk Boddington, CEO, Peter Jones Foundation

Natasha’s business is now up and running, you can see her website here https://easyread.me.uk
Contact Natasha Direct on 07743704028
Tasha@easyread.me.uk
Facebook @easyreadtasha
instagram @easyreadofficial