Budding entrepreneurs from South Craven School scooped the top award in this year's Young Enterprise in Craven finals, held at Skipton Building Society's principal office.

The Young Enterprise scheme was set up to provide 15-19 year olds with imaginative and practical business experience. Those taking part had to create and run their own companies, organising production, marketing and sales of a real product or service while still attending college or school.

From the 11 entrants, four were chosen on the merit of their company reports to take part in the finals. Awards were based on their company report, a trade stand displaying their product and a presentation of the company's performance.

South Craven School's company "Juggling Bulbs" clinched the first prize - sponsored by Skipton Building Society - with its painted glassware.

The students raised £250 working capital from family and friends, and registered at Company House. Then they produced a unique range of hand-painted glassware, including bottles and light bulbs, and ran a tuck shop at the school during morning breaks.

The business ran successfully from the end of September to the end of April, and share holders received handsome dividends of 140 per cent.

The team also spent three days at a European trade fair in Belgium, where they were commended for their innovative products, some of which were on sale at the Forget-Me-Not shop in Cross Hills.

This week they were taking part in the regional finals at York, hoping to progress to the next round and eventually to the international finals.

Young entrepreneurs from South Craven School, from left, front: Simon Whitaker, Sonal Patel, Elizabeth Hall, Chris Hughes, Sam Overend, Helen Campbell; back: Claire Corp, Farzana Chowdury, Kelly Leach

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