Young Enterprise flourishes in Exeter

A team of young entrepreneurs from Exeter School are celebrating success after coming first in the region's Young Enterprise finals.

The event, held at the MET office on 26 April 2017, showcased the talents of nine teams of schoolchildren from eight Devon schools in an Apprentice-style showdown to see who had the best business idea.

Overall winners were team ‘Company Roots' from Exeter School, who produced a distinctive colouring book based on scenes of Devon, which doubles up as a tourist guide. The team also won an award for Best Trade Stand.

Fleur Lewis, a partner with Exeter-based Top 40 accountants Bishop Fleming, who helped to judge the entries, commented: "I was delighted to be supporting and sponsoring the Young Enterprise programme, as it plays a vital role in providing financial education and experience to young people. I am proud to have played a part in that."

Young Enterprise is the UK's leading charity that empowers young people to harness their personal and business skills. It makes the connection between school and the world of work, enabling young people to develop the knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed.

Bishop Fleming has seconded eight of its staff, as volunteers, to act as business advisers to various schools in the region taking part in Young Enterprise.
Mrs. Lewis added: "The standard of entries this year was fantastic, and deciding on the winners was a real challenge. I have been involved in Young Enterprise for a number of years, but this year the benchmark was better than ever."

Guests from Devon's business community who attended the event were impressed by the diversity, creativity and high standard of products developed by the teams.

‘Wood on Waves' from Ilfracombe Academy came second with their wooden vintage boards and paintings depicting North Devon beaches, whilst in third place was ‘Brain Blox' from Trinity School who had designed a novelty puzzle based on Lego and jigsaws. Other teams taking part included pupils from St James' School, St Cuthbert Mayne, Exeter College, Tiverton High School and The Maynard School.

The young entrepreneurs now go forward to the South West Regional Finals in Gloucester on 14 June 2017, where they will compete with the winners of other local finals.

Bishop Fleming's Managing Partner, Matthew Lee, will present a £500 prize to the winning team.

Mrs. Lewis commented: "Sponsorship of Young Enterprise is one of the many ways Bishop Fleming supports financial education. This year the firm is also offering three work experience weeks to year 12 students to give them the experience of life in a real accountancy firm."

She added: "Bishop Fleming is among the UK's top three advisers to Academies and schools, with more than 400 clients in the sector, so we have a keen interest in helping them to bridge the gap with the world of work."