Top business heads of tomorrow are still at school today

MEET the top young entrepreneurs’ of tomorrow from London’s East End.

They may still be at school, but have shown their business acumen winning the title of Best Company in their area of East London.

These pupils from Whitechapel’s Swanley Secondary have scooped the Tower Hamlets area heat of the Young Enterprise London’ awards.

They went before a panel of business leaders from the world of commerce at the offices of Clifford Chance accountants in Canary Wharf with their Vibez Productionz’ enterprise.

Vibez was set up to run events in school to give kids a chance to showcase’ their talents.

ELECTING BOARD

Young Enterprise London’s company’ programme runs in 180 schools across London.

The kids elect their own board of directors and raise share capital to finance and market their product or service in the school community.’

They learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur’ and how to run their own company, with help from business volunteers from commerce and support from their teachers.

Young Enterprise London has worked with 90,000 pupils in the last year alone, teaching business and entrepreneurship as well as showing how professionals run companies.

CHALLENGE

Swanley now goes through to the East London area heats, after beating off a challenge from Stepney’s Sir John Cass Secondary.

Among their rivals will be Hackney’s area winners, youngsters from Mossbourne Community Academy, with their enterprise YAA2 Yearbooks for Year 11 school-leavers. Mossbourne knocked out Clapton Girls Technology College at last week’s area heat.

Pupils from City of London Girls’ were top in the Square Mile with their Must Have’ enterprise for making stationery products such as staff calendars and keyrings, heading off a rival bid from City of London Boys’.

The three area winners now take each other and schools across East London. Whoever wins goes through to the all-London finals in June.