Enterprising students from across the UK gathered in London yesterday to present their businesses to a panel of judges.
The annual HSBC Young Enterprise Innovation Awards rewarded Affinity, a team of Plymouth students, first prize at the event for their venture which has published a very profitable book of family friendly walking routes.
The books are already being sold in local Waterstones stores and the students have been featured in a BBC documentary about their efforts.
A deal for further books is also now in negotiation with retailers such as WH Smiths and Mothercare interested in stocking the Affinity titles. The team are predicting profits of £13,000 in 2010.
Overall the competition yielded some great results with 35,000 students taking part forming more than 2,500 companies with a collective turnover of £2m to date.
Michael Savory, chief executive of Young Enterprise, the organisation that runs the programme, said:
“The quality and creativity of the entrants continues to grow every year. We believe this a unique opportunity for students to experience the world of business whilst in full time education.”
Business secretary Lord Mandelson also congratulated the competition winners and said the students had demonstrated ‘flair, determination and innovative thinking to make their businesses successful’.
The Young Enterprise programme has been running for 28 years supporting young people between the ages of 15-19 to set up their own companies with the help of voluntary business advisers.
For more information on the scheme visit www.young-enterprise.org.uk
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2009