Trade fair shows off West Berkshire's finest entrepreneurs

West Berkshire's young business minds showcase talents during trade fair in Newbury

BUDDING entrepreneurs from schools across West Berkshire showed off their business skills at a trade fair in Newbury on Saturday.

Young Enterprise, a national charity that promotes business skills, challenged year 11 pupils to form their own companies, devise a product, produce it and sell it within an eight month period.

On Saturday the fruits (in some cases literally) of their labour were pushed upon the Newbury public from an array of stalls inside the Kennet Shopping centre.

From jam and cookies to winter gear and even designer earphones, a diverse selection of products were on offer as teams from Downe House school, in Cold Ash, the Downs school in Compton, St Gabriel's school in Newbury, and Pangbourne College squared off in the hunt to register the most sales.

The judging panel, including the co-ordinator for Newbury to become a Business Improvement District, Caroline Paus, and Young Enterprise representative Tony Henderson-Newport, were casting a critical eye over teamwork, presentation, organisation, communication and interpersonal skills of those involved.

The winning company will be announced in March.