The annual Mansfield Junior Enterprise Event was launched in January 2012 by a group of local employers and partners who felt passionate about developing the entrepreneurs of the future. The event continues to go from strength to strength and eight local schools will compete in the 2015 event on 1st July.

The event targets year 9 students and develops enterprise skills by offering opportunities to learn and develop the entrepreneurial 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 actually get the opportunity to make their product and sell it on Mansfield market on the 1st July. Event organiser Berni Dickinson 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.”

Each team will judged by members of the business community to compete for a prestigious title that will be given to the winners at the Junior Enterprise Awards evening on 8th July at the John Fretwell Centre. The awards evening showcases all the young people that have taken part with the potential to walk away with one of the eight award categories.

The overall winner will receive £500 for their school to spend on learning resources. Last year’s team from Kirkby College used the money to develop enterprise within the curriculum at the academy.

The event is organised by Mansfield Area Partnership and supported by Mansfield 2020. Together the two organisations bridge the gap between young people and the business community. The loyalty from the business community has consistently provided sponsorship to make this event happen.

Valuable support from the business community includes founder and event sponsor Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, Media sponsor AStar Media, Mansfield District Council, Linney Group, Halifax, Willmott Dixon Partnership Ltd, Mansfield Town Football Club, Mansfield 103.2, the Chad, Mansfield BID, and Young Enterprise.

The teams are:

Apollo Kirkby College “Our mission is to deliver reusable products to people of all ages” – Oliver, Kai, Declan, Macaulley, Tomas.

Books R Us Queen Elizabeth “To design book foldings and make little flowers from pages and recycle old books into new ornaments” – Anzelika Lugononoka, Megan Aikulola, Charlotte Hoole, Iffshah Idrees, Samuel Hedison, Kirk Crowde.

Camoji All Saints “We intend to provide protection for phone cases but make them stylish at the same time.” – Rishi Nair, Sam Troop, Josh Dooley, Ciaran Fenton, Krystian Gawlik, Kian Dent, Louis Harrison.

Flavoured Flames All Saints “Offering great candles with bags of style” – Emily Sturgess Team Leader, Billie-Jo Brailsford, Hannah Buckler, Katie Chapman, Hannah Lee.

Key Bling Queen Elizabeth “Making a creative key rings that will raise money for charity” – Charlie Newbrury, Ole Germain, Charlotte Evans, Molly Adams, Tomas Vrabec, Shannon Glaves, Adam Kent.

Made in Mansfield Brunts “Our Mission is to light up the lives of the people in Mansfield with locally sourced products to make candles” – Matt Sullivan, Josh Ashall Smith, Anna Jevons, Kelly Nyland, Lauren Whysall, Alice Adams.

Marketeers Garibaldi “We aspire to sell our key-rings to the children and adults of Mansfield” Kyle Beadle, Ciaran McVeigh, Roman Fish, Connor Willsher, Daryl Stratton-Baldwin.

Naturally Gorgeous Ashfield “Giving people the ability to make a delightful treat that will bring out their natural beauty using natural products.” – Holly Mitchell, Katie Holmes, Sophie Truepenny, Abbie Hunt.

Stop Drop Candy Shop All Saints “Creating Sweet Cones” – Sam Hamilton, Laura Green, Megan Parkes, Emily Fogwill, Patryk Sroka.

Tub Tea Samworth Church Academy “Our product will be tea bags with a difference – they are designed to go in your bath to give an experience – not to drink” – Stephen Peach Wilson, Rachel Lance, Georgia York, Megan Tarft, Jack Rick, Isabella Palfreyman, Taylor Davies.

Budding Beech Beech “To make and sell garden products to the general public to earn Money – Pierce Clark, Shane Ward, Dane Thornton, Kane Bartram.

Garden Gnomes Garibaldi “To raise money and work as a team selling good quality garden gnomes” – Bradley Fox, Laura Dunstan, Kiya Bishop, Melissa Dooley, Jamilia.