Students show off business enterprise

12:32pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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DOZENS of schoolchildren from across the county have had a taste of the working world after setting up their own businesses.

The youngsters all took part in the Young Persons Enterprise trade fair, which saw them form a business, create a product and sell to the public.

The pupils, from five secondary schools including Corsham School, John Bentley Secondary School and Dauntsey School, set up stalls to sell their goods in a vacant shop in the Martingate Centre in Corsham on Saturday.

Hidden among the crowds of customers were mystery shoppers who marked the groups selling efforts.

President of Corsham Chamber of Commerce Ian Storey helped set up the event. He said: "The day was a great success and I was really impressed with all of the teams' efforts.

"The whole premise of the event was for the pupils to learn by doing and getting their hands dirty.

"Every one of the teams worked brilliantly together and all managed to put together a genuine business."

The overall winners were the team from Dauntsey's School who marketed and sold beeswax candles made by the school's beeswax club.

Mr Storey said: "Dauntsey really shone on the day and produced a top quality item to sell.

"They were also awarded the service excellence award because they were superb at dealing with the public."

All the schools will continue trading as their businesses until May when they must divide profits between their shareholders.

Dauntsey School will go through to the area finals on April 29 and, if successful, will compete in the regional finals in Swindon on May 15.