Young Enterprise is the UK’s largest business and enterprise education charity and this year, Marches students were again successful at the Company Programme Award Event held at the County Showground in Shrewsbury.

Ben Smith, Lewis Jones, Dan Smart, Max Lewis, Sam Davis, Henry Jones, John Roberts and Alex Keir represented the school in this year’s Young Enterprise Company Programme.

The team created a company called ‘Blue Gecko’ and with the guidance of the ICAT (Information, Communication and Applied Technologies) Design & Technology staff, have been manufacturing their own designs of bird-feeders.

In a close final, competing against 27 teams from schools and colleges around the county, the team, Blue Gecko, were nominated for awards in 4 categories: Best Customer Service, Best Company Report, Best Financial Management and Best Product. The team won the award for Best Financial Management of their company.

Mr Will Harris, Young Enterprise Coordinator at The Marches School commented, “Having attended trade fairs in Shrewsbury and Telford, they always found their products to be very successful and highly saleable. I am so proud of the students for what they have achieved and am delighted they won an award. They really are a credit to the school”.

In addition, local business woman Heather Noble (Salt Solutions), who has worked incredibly hard with the team, was presented with the county Business Adviser of the year award.

The Young Enterprise students have also been extremely fortunate to receive the support of Heather Noble, owner of Salt Solutions, a specialist coaching, training and mentoring agency. Heather mentored the students on a weekly basis, throughout the programme.