Sue Arnold, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, is encouraging young people across the county to do something positive and become young entrepreneurs.
Mrs Arnold attended the Young Enterprise Finals at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium to present awards to youngsters in the county who are trying their hands at business.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire sponsored one of this year’s Young Enterprise awards. Mrs Arnold was invited to attend as a judge in her capacity as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and as a successful businesswoman in her own right.
The Young Enterprise programme encourages school pupils aged 15 to 18 to become budding entrepreneurs and create their own company. They make all of the decisions around products and business and marketing plans for the company. The students will then attend local markets and events in order to sell their products to members of the public.
Each of the Young Enterprise companies in the finals gave a presentation on their business where they told the judges about their product as well as their business and marketing plans.
This year’s winner was Rawlett School from Tamworth, whose company Safe Space have designed and produced a booklet on internet safety for parents, which was a big hit with the judges.
Mrs Arnold said: ‘It was an honour to attend as a judge and I was very impressed with all who made it to the finals. Congratulations to Rawlett School for winning the South and East Staffordshire title and progressing to the County Finals.
‘Cyber crime is an integral part of our agenda and their winning innovative idea to target parents and make them aware of the dangers online is great. A recent survey found that 35% of households with children under 18 years-old don’t have any cyber protection so their ‘Stay Safe Online’ booklet will really help spread the message.
‘The Young Enterprise programme is a fantastic way for young people to develop a whole host of skills, both business and personal. It’s so important that we support and encourage the entrepreneurs and young people in our county, they are our future.’
Mrs Arnold also presented Young Enterprise Journey Awards to students at Paget High School in Burton-on-Trent and Netherstowe School in Lichfield. The Journey awards celebrate the progress the team members have made and how they dealt with the challenges that they faced.
Other schools who made it to the finals were Landau Forte academy who designed memorabilia for school leavers; Chase Terrace High School who produced vinyl nail art stencils; King Edwards VI whose motivational tooth brush for children tracks when they have brushed their teeth; Paget High School who have designed a book aimed at tackling societal issues around health and Netherstowe School who have produced wallet and purse sized ‘In Case of Emergency’ cards and key rings.
