Young entrepreneurs take over Market Square

Young entrepreneurs from schools in Stone and Stafford will be putting their business skills to the test in Stone this weekend (Saturday 1st February).

As well as the monthly farmers’ market in the town centre, Saturday will also see the annual Stafford and Stone Young Enterprise trade fair in Market Square.

The trade fair is a key point in the Young Enterprise competition, in which teams from Stone schools have excelled over the last few years. Equipo, from Alleyne’s Academy, made it to the national finals last year, following hot on the heels of other Alleyne’s successes like The Sock Tree Company and Versaleaf.

Teams from Alleyne’s Academy and St Dominic’s Priory School in Stone will again be taking part and taking on schools from across the borough.

Tiers of Joy St Dom’s – who use recycled plates to make vintage cake stands – have a great Facebook page HERE

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You can find Alleyne’s team Ignite – which has manufactured collapsible smartphone stands – on Twitter HERE

Each team will present their products for sale throughout Saturday and display critical information about their business structure, finances and successes to date. A judging process will commence from 11am externally to review the stalls and professionalism of the teams, marked against strict criteria, followed by a private meeting. A first, second and third prize for the fair will be announced towards the end of the day.

The Stafford and Stone schools taking part in the Young Enterprise programme are supported by an enthusiastic area board, comprised of Staffordshire businesses including area chairman Stuart Walton and Sarah White, director of Stone’s M-viron.

During their experience, students are supported in school by link teachers and volunteer business advisors to help develop key skills including the ability to work as a team, managing responsibility and initiative. The programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge of how to run a commercially viable operation across business supply chain functions including sales, marketing, human resources and finance.

Anyone interested in supporting Young Enterprise should call Janis Wilcox on 07960 055448.