Edgbaston pupils sweep the board at Young Enterprise Awards

Two teams of entrepreneurial pupils from Edgbaston High School swept the board at the Local Area Young Enterprise Final.

They won all categories on offer, to collect prizes in Best Trade Stand, Best Company Report and Best Company.

The school's two Young Enterprise teams comprised seventeen Year 12 students (16 and 17 years of age).

They were competing against several schools in the local area, however, their determination and commitment to the task saw them fend off the fierce competition.

As part of the programme, the teams were required to establish a business and develop a range of products to be designed, marketed and sold for a profit.

Team Retro, headed up by Harborne-based student Hollie Cattaneo, produced vinyl bowls, bookends, cake stands and CD clocks.

Moseley-based student Alice Field steered team Infinity to success through the production of handmade rings and bracelets and the sale of personalised hoodies at school events.

At the South Birmingham area finals each team was required to produce a company report and give a five-minute presentation. Earlier in the year the teams set up stands to sell their creations at trade fairs at Solihull's Touchwood Shopping Centre and Birmingham's Bull Ring shopping centre.

Entries were judged by a panel of business experts from several industries, including Pete Linforth of Jaguar Landrover, who declared Edgbaston High School winners in all categories: Retro won Best Company Report, Best Presentation, Best Trade Stand and Best Company and Infinity won Best Trade Stand and Best Company.

Mrs Jackie Shutt, Link Teacher at the school, who has been supporting the teams throughout the competition, said: "I'm delighted with the success of our teams. They have managed to devise plausible business ideas and make a profit without any prior business knowledge.

"The Young Enterprise programme is an ideal initiative to motivate and give our girls the confidence to step out into the world of business once they have completed their education."

Both EHS teams are now on their way to the County finals on Wednesday, May 23, at the University of Birmingham's Great Hall.