The Young Enterprise regional final was held in Southend-on-sea for the first time last week and was hosted by the University of Essex.

Young Enterprise is a non-for-profit organization with more than 40 years Enterprise Education experience, focusing upon delivering business and enterprise programmes to children and young people by aiming to build partnerships between the world of business and the education environment.

This event was designed by Young Enterprise for young people between 14-19 years of age, offering them an opportunity to participate at different levels by creating and running their own companies.

The eight teams that qualified for the regional final are from local schools including; the Appleton School, Beauchamps High school, the Gateway Academy, Southend High School for Boys and Westcliff High school for Girls. Parents of these teams attended the event which was won by Last Chance; a team from the Appleton School. The company they created was about giving products a last chance, by re-using waste products which in return generates a source of livelihood for people. Apart from being the regional final winner and the regional representatives, they also went home with the Best Trade Stand Award and will be completing in the National Final later this year.

Other teams awarded were; Best Company Award – Shooting Stars (the Appleton School), Best Presentation Award – Fresh Inc (Beauchamps High School), Most Enterprising Company Award – Gateway Kitchen (the Gateway Academy) and the World Cup Company Award – Gazzelle Enterprises (Westcliff High School for Girls).

Managing Director of winning team, Last Chance, Kieran Bagnall said: ‘This is the second year that Last Chance has won the regional final and we are delighted. We have really been able to build on the presentation skills we learnt last year in the Young Enterprise competition.’

A team of judges from Southend-on-sea Borough Council, University of Essex and HSBC Bank decided on the wining team. The event was sponsored by the University of Essex.

Notes to editors
For more information contact the University of Essex Communications Office, telephone 01206 872807, e-mail comms@essex.ac.uk. Photographs of the winning team are available on request.

Young Enterprise currently reaches more than 320,000 young people each year through the involvement and support of 3,000 UK businesses.
As a Charity, they rely on the active participants of volunteers to make the learning experience come alive for thousands of young people each year. Their volunteers make a real difference to the current life and future potential of the young students they support.

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