Young entrepreneurs score highly

Jul 2 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

HUNDREDS of budding entrepreneurs from the North East came together to showcase their achievements in a project to transform classroom ideas into working businesses.

Over 200 pupils from 40 schools took part in ‘Celebration Enterprise’ at the Stadium of Light yesterday to display the businesses they developed as part of the Key Stage 5 (KS5) programme – a 12-month initiative which provided 16 to 19-year-olds with the experience of running a business.

Funded by One North East and managed by RTC North, KS5 involved 20,000 participants from 54 schools and colleges. A total of 359 mini ‘in school’ or ‘in college’ enterprises were created, with the remaining businesses also providing services to their local communities.

Ian Williams, of One North East, said: “By creating opportunities for young people it helps open the door to new opportunities to broaden the region’s business base whilst providing new jobs for local people.”

Mike Hawkins, enterprise senior specialist at One North East, said: “I was blown away by the creativity that was on show at the Stadium of Light.”

Janine Marshall of RTC North, said: “It was a privilege to witness the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the young people involved in the programme. ”