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Wansbeck students prove enterprise works

Students from St Benet Biscops Catholic High School in Bedlington, Northumberland, are on to a winner with their Young Enterprise company, Panda Productions. The 15 students set up the company in September 2006, as part of the Young Enterprise programme and now produce story and colouring books for children, which are sold in schools across the country. The stories are designed to promote social and emotional wellbeing and to work with the national curriculum.

Panda Productions was recognised at the Young Enterprise North East Trade Fair where it won the Most Creative Company Award and its books have been translated into Arabic and Urdu. The students were mentored by staff at the Northumberland Enterprise Centre in Ashington, who provided them with business advice sessions which finished with a Dragon’s Den style contest in which the company was given an initial investment of £300 to help set up the business.

Brian Hannaway, centre manager at Northumberland Enterprise Centre, said: “We were very impressed with the students’ imagination and the enterprising skills that they have now developed. When they came in on the first day they were complete novices, but by the end of the second they were coming up with some brilliant ideas and their success thus far highlights what a bright bunch they are!”

Michael Pears (17) managing director of Panda Productions, said: “We’ve all really learnt a lot through the setting up of Panda Productions – it has been a fantastic opportunity – and we hope to be able to carry the company on next year. I think we’ll be able to take these skills onto careers in business and maybe even set up another business ourselves.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .