Local business leaders are again supporting the annual Mansfield and Ashfield Junior Enterprise Event, which helps students in Year 9 set up and run a small business.

Funded in January 2012 by a group of local employers and partners who felt passionate about developing the entrepreneurs of the future, the event is organised by Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 and The Evolve Trust, working alongside Malcolm Hall to fulfil his vision to give every young person the opportunity to aspire.

The event targets Year 9 students and develops their enterprise skills by offering opportunities to learn and develop the characteristics of tenacity, independence, innovation, imagination, risk taking, creativity, intuition and leadership.

Each team is mentored by a local business leader to provide an understanding of how to set up a small business enterprise and get the opportunity to make their product and sell it on Mansfield Market on 28th June.

Berni Dickinson, of The Evolve Trust and part of the event team, said: “If you are in town on that day please show your support and take a look for yourself at the great businesses that our young people have developed.

“Year on year the event goes from strength to strength and has attracted nine local schools to compete this year.”

Each team is judged by members of the business community to compete for a title that will be given to the winners at the Junior Enterprise Awards evening at Ransom Hall Elements Suit, Ransom Woods Business Park, Mansfield.

The judging panel includes: Jane Box, Interactive People Development; Irvin Robinson, retired 2020 chairman; Sarah Nelson, of Mansfield BID; Stephi Grayson, I Jump Trampoline Park; Emily Revill, Calverton Finance Ltd.

The awards evening will showcase the 70 young people who have taken part in the competition with seven award categories including the best team and the overall winner.

Sponsors include Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, Pendragon Training Academy, Linney Group, Ashfield and Mansfield District Council, B Jephson Ltd and Jephson Shopfitters.

Former Brunts School, Mansfield, pupil Alex Peace Gadsby, currently owner and director of Musto, will be guest speaker.

She is the Chief Commissioner of England for The Scout Association.

Young people taking part in the 2017 Junior Enterprise event:

Brunts Academy: Grow your own!
Joe Birchall
George Soar
Henry Stevenson
Evan Lord
Business Mentor: Richard Fuller, County Battery Services

All Saints’: Saints Ceramics
Joseph Walker
Ross Foulkes
Lucas Gonzalez Herran
Rebecca Hyatt
Mentor: Jon Coe

All Saints: Exscentric
Chloe Simpson
Lydia Bancroft
Alyssa Bradley
Ffion Roberts
Leah Bull
Mentor: Jon Coe

Garibaldi: Cup Creators
Tilly-Mae Dyer
Josh Lowe
Jess Bramley
Caitlin Lewing
Corey Starbuck
Business Mentor: Gary Jordon, GMJ Business & Engineering Services

Garibaldi: Cozietts
Jack Morgan
Joe Cheesy
Marilena Kritikou
Jordan Bramwell
Ahd Ahmadi
Katie Coxford
Business Mentor: Gary Jordon, GMJ Business & Engineering Services

Quarrydale: Scent it
Evie Cowlishaw
Eve Hallam
Nell Hallam
Holly Townsend
Gracie Diffin
Leigh Kent
Business Mentor: Peter Roberts, Collis Engineering

Quarrydale: Chalk it up
Heather Walker
Lewie Mason
Aimee Nunn
Josh Walsh
Harrison Cudworth
Hollie Mae Esward
Business Mentor: Peter Roberts, Collis Engineering

Kirkby College: C.G.L.S Recycling
Josh Curtis
Sophie Lunn
Katie Stevens
Alex Greasley
Business Mentor: Natasha Howells & Katie Filardi

Kirkby College: LEL
Ethan
Leah
Libby
Business Mentor: Natasha Howells & Katie Filardi

REAL Education: REAL Natural
Cameron Good
Jack Blake
Joel Palfreyman
Business Mentor: Jon Hodgkinson