HSBC Student Company of the Year Winners 2026

Castle Rushen Students Win HSBC Student Company of the Year 2026

Castle Rushen students have been named HSBC Student Company of the Year.

Re-Vitalize, consisting of Matthew Ellis, Danny Hall, Riley Ennet, Aidan O’Kelly and Robbie Valerga, impressed the judges with their winning business idea to develop an all-natural soil enhancer made from coffee grounds and spent hops.

Three members of the team work part-time as baristas and identified the issue of waste coffee grounds first hand.

Millions of tonnes of coffee grounds are wasted globally each year. When organic waste such as coffee grounds decomposes in landfill without oxygen, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas around 25–28 times more potent than CO₂.

The team joined more than 150 students from all Isle of Man high schools at a one-day event held at the Comis Hotel. The competition determined which student business would go on to represent the Island at the European finals.

Runner up in the competition went to Luna from St Ninian’s High School who developed ‘Plate Mate’ a branded plate with a QR code that takes children to a fun food website encouraging them to try different foods.

Third place was awarded to Valoris from Ballakermeen High School who are developing  ‘PureSip’  a flavourless dual-purpose drinking straw that contains built in testing strip indicating the possible presence of drugs.

This summer, winning student companies from 41 countries will come together for GEN-E, Europe’s largest entrepreneurship festival, held in Riga from 6–10 July 2026. Revitalize will represent the Isle of Man with the ambition of bringing home a European title.

Sue Cook, CEO of JA, said “We are proud to partner with HSBC in delivering the Company Programme. Their support plays a vital role in preparing young people for the future workforce and strengthening the Isle of Man’s long-term economic success.”

Junior Achievement is a Manx registered charity that supports more than 5,000 young people in the Isle of Man.