Business-minded pupils in finals of national contest
PRIMARY school children from Maesteg have made it through to the national final of a competition which aims to find the most promising young business talent in Wales.
Enterprise Troopers brings together five to 11-year-olds from across the country to encourage entrepreneurship from a young age. The children participate in teams to create and run their own enterprises, selling products or services of their choosing in their schools and local communities.
Of the 14 primary schools from south-east Wales that took part in the regional final, the three most exciting business ideas of the Key Stage Two pupils made it through to the national final at Cardiff Metropolitan University, to battle it out against other young entrepreneurs from across Wales and present their shortlisted idea to a number of Big Ideas Wales Role Models and entrepreneurs in a bid to win the national title.
Pupils from Garth Primary School in Maesteg, along with two other schools from Cardiff, wowed the judges at the regional final of the Enterprise Troopers competition at the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl.
Garth Primary School impressed the judges with their business Bee Spoke T-shirts, beethemed shirts that they designed themselves to raise awareness about bee conservation and to raise money for security for the school’s bee hive after it was vandalised.
Headteacher Julie Thomas said: “It’s been a wonderful experience for our pupils being involved in Enterprise Troopers so far, and we’re really proud of them for making it through to the national final. Their hard work has paid off. Here’s hoping we can continue the success at the final in Cardiff.”
Other businesses on display at the event included Tremains Primary School’s business making healthy eating snacks for school, and Brynmenyn Primary, who produced cards and crafts to sell on their own mini stalls.
Showing their support for the pupils at each regional final are four “super-troopers”, each representing the key attributes of entrepreneurship – attitude, creativity, relationships and organisation.
As well as the Porthcawl event, other regional finals have been taking place across Wales ahead of the national final in Cardiff.