The apprentice apprentices

West Midlands students go head to head in first round of national Young Enterprise competition.

Budding young entrepreneurs from the West Midlands will be putting their business heads on to compete in the West Midlands Final of the Young Enterprise Company Programme, supported by HSBC at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium on 11th June 2015 from 6pm–9.30pm.

Six teams from six West Midlands schools will be vying to take home the top prize of Best Company after taking on the challenge of setting up and running their own businesses for a year with the help of local business mentors on the Company Programme.

The overall winning company will represent the West Midlands at the Company Programme UK Final on the 2nd July at the British Film Institute in London.

Michael Mercieca, Young Enterprise Chief Executive said: “The West Midlands Final is the penultimate stage in the Company Programme competition, supported by HSBC.

“These students have worked incredibly hard all year, and at the final they’ll be demonstrating their products and services that they’ve produced or sourced on the Programme, and showcasing the skills they’ve developed along the way.

“Setting up and running their own companies while in school gives young people valuable real-life experience and enables them to develop key skills that will help them in work and in life. We’ve seen some great businesses set up by young people in West Midlands this year and I wish all the students the best of luck.”

More than 1,815 14 to 18-year-olds in schools across the West Midlands have taken part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme this year, setting up companies with help from local business volunteers.

Products created and sold by West Midlands Young Enterprise companies this year include a six a side football league and events company, a snack box, children’s activity and storybooks, bee and honey related products, magic wallets and ethical bags and pouches.