Mobile science school wins national Most Deserving Business Award
David Reed, owner of Fizz Pop Science has this week been announced as the winner of a national Most Deserving Business Award, hosted by Motors.co.uk. The business survived a public vote and faced a judging panel to earn itself a Ford Transit van and encouraging growth prize worth £3,000, all aimed at helping the business to grow.
Fizz Pop Science, a non-profit community interest group, was nominated for its continued good work in organising and delivering fun and exciting science workshops, after school clubs and additional free shows to help inspire a generation of young scientists.
It’s not been an easy ride for David, who has twice been made redundant in the past.
With A-levels in both Art and Science, a Preparation of Artwork for Print course and Interactive Media degree under his belt, David has combined his artistic flair and science knowledge with his passion for education.
After eleven years of employment at a hot air balloon manufacturer – where he revolutionised their art work development, David’s first redundancy occurred. A second one followed soon after, just one month before his wedding, and it was at this point David decided to set up Fizz Pop Science.
“It’s been an intense five years since I left University, things have been really tough. I’ve been working really hard, and still not been able to pay my way” says David. The 36 year old from Bristol takes a modest wage from the business even now, safeguarding its success and survival.
“I really believe in what I do, I’m really passionate about it. I just hope that we inspire the kids to enjoy science. I get stuck in, work all hours, and I was even doing so during the birth of my second baby who arrived just thirteen weeks ago.”
In just one and a half years of trading, Fizz Pop Science has worked in 250 schools across the South West. They have hosted 300 events, with an average attendance of 200 children to each one. With the addition of shows, the mobile science school has reached around 6,000 children so far.
“It may be that we go to 100 schools and out of those, one or two children become inspired enough to go on and become a great scientist”.
David is now in the process of setting up a base for Fizz Pop Science in Birmingham too. His long term aim is to bring fun science education to schools across the whole of the UK. The prize – a £3,000 encouraging growth donation, and a Ford Transit van – which comes from winning the award, will help Fizz Pop Science to market the business, purchase new science equipment, and travel to and from events much more economically. His family car, which is what David currently uses, can now be relieved of the 3,000 miles it clocked up just this past month, making the journeys to and from venues.
Motors.co.uk will be meeting with David Reed during week commencing 17thJune 2013, where a prize handover will take place. Content and images will be uploaded to the website: http://mostdeserving.motors.co.uk/business/
ENDS
Notes to editor
Read our Top 10 finalists stories here.
For more details: Stephanie Gibson | steph.gibson@stickyeyes.com | 0113 391 2929
Motors.co.uk is the UK’s second biggest vehicle classified advertising site and search portal, and won the 2011 and 2012 awards for ‘Online Advertising Site of the Year’ at the prestigious Car Dealer Power Awards.
The ‘Most Deserving’ award was launched in late 2011 to recognise those who strive to achieve more for themselves and others Motors.co.uk believes in giving credit where credit’s due, which is why each year, they set out to reveal the nation’s unsung heroes and find the one who most deserves to win this prestigious title.