From calendars and candy canes to chocolates and carrier bags, Norfolk youngsters showed real commercial flair at this year's EDP Young Enterprise Business Awards.
Jour de Jour, a team of eight Year 12 youngsters from Smithdon High School, Hunstanton, was named Company of the Year and received the EDP trophy in front of 150 people at County Hall on Thursday night.
The students produced a range of calendars, cards and prints using photographs of local scenes and school staff. The firm's profit of more than £1000 is to be given to the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Coral Campbell was their 'link teacher' and the firm's business advisers were landscape photographer Martin Billing, of Bringing The Outside In, and school governor Chris Gillett.
EDP columnist Ian Bullock, chairman of the judges, said: “Jour de Jour stood out as a winning entry from the very start and just got better and better as the contest progressed. The students were businesslike, professional and excellent in every respect - and they're a credit to Norfolk.”
The other judges were Ali Clabburn, of Attleborough-based Liftshare.com; Richard Courridge, of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce; and Clive Turner, of Norwich City College, representing the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).
Jour de Jour also won the Yvonne Mason Award for the best presentation and will now represent Young Enterprise Norfolk at the regional finals in Cambridge next month.
Team leader Amy Peveritt, 16, said: “We're surprised but extremely pleased that all our hard work on Young Enterprise has paid off. The other teams were all of a very high standard but we knew we had a strong product and I think that gave us the confidence we needed.”
Following a series of area heats, the five teams in Thursday's Norfolk finals were Jour de Jour; Kiwi Company from Norwich High School for Girls and the Norwich School; Ecu from City of Norwich School (CNS); Rustic Flair from Flegg High School, Martham; and Wymondham College Enterprises from Wymondham College.
Rustic Flair won the Barclays Bank Teamwork Award and the ICSA Plaque for the Best Administered Company. Wymondham College Enterprises won the May Gurney Innovation Award for its student art website and online gallery.
A new award this year for the best business continuity plan across all schools taking part was presented by the Norfolk Major Incident Team, Norfolk County Council and Norwich Union. It was won by Attraction, a team from Norwich High School for Girls and the Norwich School.
The HSBC Special Achievement Award went to Ruth Bullard, enterprise co-ordinator at Blyth-Jex School, Norwich, who has made an outstanding contribution to Young Enterprise over the years.
The EDP, which sponsors the county competition, was itself presented with an award by Young Enterprise as the best YE business supporter in Norfolk.
Companies from 29 schools and colleges in Norfolk were formed in September under the Young Enterprise Company Programme, which offers young people the opportunity to run their own business while still in full-time education. More than 550 students have been involved.
Anyone requiring more information on Young Enterprise can contact 01953 455324 or 452210, or e-mail gill.hall@yeee.org.uk. The websites are www.yeee.org.uk and www.young-enterprise.org.uk. |