Chala Chai's submission to the Enterprise Nation x Vista Print shortlisting for the Realising the Remarkable programme. I was unable to work out how to add subtitles so please find the transcript below for accessibility. "Hi, My name is Andrew McGuire and I am the founder of Chala, a company which produces and sells high-quality chai. I officially launched in August 2020, but the idea behind Chala was born before this. In 2017 I took a gap year and during that time visited India. Every day we were given this delicious golden chai. When I came home, I went to many coffee shops trying to find a similar chai, but I was so disappointed. The only options were powder or syrup-based chai, which are full of sugar and additives. However, during Covid, I started to mess about in my mum’s kitchen and after a lot of awful chai, I landed on a tasty, completely natural blend. I let some people try it and from there, Chala was created. Since applying to step one of the application process, I have been offered a work space. It has a lot of potential and would allow me to transition from working out of my own kitchen and expand without the limitations of working from home. This space is £200 a month and the grant would allow me to cover rent for at least 12 months without the worry of costs and give me space to grow the business further. I would also purchase a mixer which would half my production time and with the cost-of-living crisis hitting cafes and local store owners in particular, I can pass on savings to stockists, allowing for more sales and more people drinking our chai. I would also use part of the grant to invest in Google Ads while using VistaCreate Pro to improve my social media presence through higher quality posting. My dream is to create a programme where dyslexic young people from my community can engage in work experience with someone who can help them recognise their worth and their potential. When I was aged six, I was diagnosed as dyslexic. I really struggled in school and I understand how difficult it can be. School was hard, but when I am in business, when I was in an entrepreneurial setting, I came alive! I want to build a brand that is known for how it gives back. I believe I can have a positive impact on young people who struggle in school like I did. This grant would help me see this dream come to life quicker than I can do it by myself. Thanks for watching."
