Member Article

Panda bags Young Enterprise award

The Young Enterprise North East (YENE) Company of the Year regional finals came to its climax this week as Patchy the Panda helped a Northumberland school triumph for the second year running. Panda Productions, a company set up by pupils of St Benet Biscop RC School in Bedlington, Northumberland, walked away with the top prize from Tuesday’s regional final. They will now represent the North East at the national final in London on 15 July.

David Haley, head of client management at BT, a Young Enterprise director and one of the three people judging, said: “It is very impressive that the 12-strong team from St Benet Biscop’s was able to repeat the achievements of their schoolmates last year. The reason they won this year is because they have an incredibly strong product, a book considered so strong that it is to be included in the national teaching syllabus for key stage one primary school children in 2008. They even secured funding and sponsorship for their product, conducted market research and were very well prepared.”

Catherine Marchant, Young Enterprise North East’s Chief Executive, said: “As ever I have witnessed some remarkable and inspiring young people on stage tonight. Every year I am completely in awe as the standards of our young business minds reach new heights. These are our regions entrepreneurs of tomorrow and we must keep that entrepreneurial spirit burning strong. The next step for Panda Productions is to take their business down to the National Finals and compete against 11 schools next month in London. The winning regional business will receive £1000 and the chance to go on and represent the UK in the European Final.”

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