ENTERPRISING office workers Sarah Green and Judith Coles stand to win up to £1m in royalties from a bright idea.

The pair, who work for educational software firm RM at Milton Park, near Didcot, were winners of the company’s Entrepreneur of the Year competition with an idea to save primary schools time and money.

Their product, SimplyWorks, allows up to 10 pupils to access a computer program simultaneously rather than having it loaded individually on to their computers.

Ms Green, 37, from Didcot, said: “It is our job to talk to customers and we listen and learn from them. It was through this we identified a gap in the market.

“It sounds simple but that is often where the most powerful ideas come from.”

The competition included a Dragons’ Den-style interview with chief executive Terry Sweeney.

But ultimately the duo triumphed, beating competition from across the company, which employs 2,700 people globally, 1,200 of them in Milton Park.

Their prize is a 10 per cent share of the profits from their idea – up to a total of £1m.

Ms Coles, 32, added: “We spent a lot of our own time working on the initial concept and with people around the company with different technical skills, as well as senior managers.

“We have learned a lot, including writing business plans and presentations.

“It is exciting to think we are breaking new ground and it will be a proud moment when it goes on the market in the New Year.”

Mr Sweeney said: “At RM, innovation is our lifeblood. Entrepreneur of the Year is about investing in great business ideas, and also about investing in great people.

“Sarah and Judith have proved themselves real entrepreneurs who have the drive and determination to turn their idea into reality.”

RM SimplyWorks will be launched at the BETT 2011 educational technology show at London’s Olympia from January 12-15.