Skip to main content

Young entrepreneurs head to Princesshay for the annual Young Enterprise Trade Show

By December 7, 2016January 26th, 2021Member News & Updates

School teams taking part in Exeter’s Young Enterprise are heading to Princesshay on Saturday 10th December from 10am – 4 pm to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and sell their Christmas wares at the Young Enterprise Trade Show. Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading charity that empowers young people to harness their personal and business skills.

Ten schools and colleges from Exeter, East, Mid, North and South Devon will each set up and operate their stalls in Princesshay, in Bampfylde Lane, (between Saks and JD Sports), to compete for the accolade of ‘Most Successful Business’. The teams will be under the watchful eye of the judges; Wayne Pearce, Princesshay Centre Director, Paul Banks, CEO and founder of Fresha Café and Jonathan Melhuish-Sprague, Founding Partner of Koncept.

Marian Weston, Young Enterprise Manager for Devon, said: “The students are really excited to be exhibiting in Princesshay. The footfall in the centre provides a fantastic opportunity for each of the schools to present their businesses and products to a wide audience. Events like these help our students gain a practical understanding of running a business and interacting with customers.

The team from St James School Exeter will be selling its Original Masonary Jars. This environmentally friendly Young Enterprise company use recycled jars to create candles and terrariums for sale. All jars feature handcrafted designs by the students. 

Exeter School have two teams in the competition, Fractured, selling T-shirts and other clothing with a highly distinctive brand targeted at the youth market and Country Roots, selling adult colouring books featuring local Devon attractions and a cookery book.

The Maynard Young Enterprise Company, 'Blue Velvet' will be selling handmade, personalised accessories including chokers, bracelets and keyrings. They will also have the latest on trend must-have item for girls – fluffy pom-pom keyrings in a variety of colours at competitive prices making fantastic Christmas presents. 'Wood On Waves' company from Ilfracombe Academy will be selling its range of environmentally friendly surf related products celebrating the beauty of North Devon. This includes their own original wooden body boards and a range of driftwood inspired paintings.

Preme from Exeter College has used 3D printing technology to create key chains and educational puzzles. Squish and Squeeze from St Lukes Academy in Exeter, has produced a malleable stress ball for the purpose of relieving tension. Brain Blox from Trinity School, Teignmouth will be selling a range of their new innovative 3D puzzles which are a twist on a much loved toy which we all know from Christmas days past.  They will also be running a competition at the trade fair which will enable customers to experience first-hand the delights of the wonderful brain busters.Tiverton High School’s company TET, has created a 2017 Tiverton High School calendar featuring school teams and houses whileSt Cuthbert Mayne School, Torquay has manufactured a retro inspired product called the Mayne Light.

Wayne Pearce, Centre Director of Princesshay said: “We look forward to welcoming the Young Enterprise schools back for a second year and I’m sure many of our shoppers will be interested to see the products each team have created and brought to market. Young Enterprise provides a fantastic opportunity for young people in Exeter and the surrounding area to learn and participate in a journey from the original idea through to production, marketing and then selling.

Visitors to Princesshay on Saturday 10th December will be able to buy the unique products from the local pupils and learn more about the Young Enterprise Programme.