Young business teams go far

Young Enterprise companies Elevate and Alacrity - both made up of pupils from Warwick and King’s High Schools - won the area final of the Young Enterprise Company Programme, which recently took place at IBM in Warwick.

Each team of 15 to 17-year-olds had to give a five-minute presentation about their companies to a panel of judges made up of business leaders in the area.

The youngsters had set up their companies in September - and since then, they have brainstormed ideas, conducted market research, scrutinised potential suppliers and raised enough capital to bring their ideas to the market.

The Courier featured Elevate last month for their mini storage pouches, Joey Pouches, which had been so successful that they were looking at introducing it to the overseas market.

The teams sold their products at a trade fair in Leamington and submitted a company report before the presentation evening, which represented the culmination of several months of hard work.

Prizes for the best presentation, innovative product and most profitable company were awarded.

Will Button, managing director of Elevate, said: “I have learnt so much from taking part in this year’s Young Enterprise scheme and being managing director of team Elevate.

“Learning new business and management skills will be very beneficial to me for my future career prospects and I am very proud of the product Joey that my team have produced.

“Being given the chance to take part in the Young Enterprise process is a fantastic opportunity which I would encourage others to take up to gain many valuable business skills.”

Young Enterprise is a UK charity that aims to help young people to harness their business skills by offering employability and financial education programmes, resources and teacher training. To find out more, visit www.young-enterprise.org.uk

Any businesses interested in supporting a programme can contact [email protected]