Young Entrepreneurs in Hull

I spent all day Thursday working with young entrpreneurs in our region. I have supported youth enterprise intiatives ever since I came back from Canada. Over the past 9 months I have been working with Pocklington School's Young Enterprise program as a business advisor to a team called 'Fat Penguin' - a hilarious name I know, but it was all about their story and brand. It's been a fab time working with the achievers and although they didn't make it to the next adjudication stage, I was really proud of their achievements as they took the 'Best Sales Team Award' back in February at the Prince's Quay Trade show.

Yesterday morning I was over at the University of Hull's Business School working with David Tucker the Dean of the school on a 'Dragon's Den' for undergrads who had spent the last 2 semesters developing a business/enterprise plan. I was teamed with 3 other judges from opther businesses in the area and we heard the 3 qualifying teams business ideas. We then got a chance to question the teams on their business proposition and had to judge them on a criteria of about 6 different indicators. The winners were a group of students who put together a bespoke ladies tailoring proposition which was really excellent.

The winners and the other teams are above. Straight from the Dragons' Den I booted over to Doncaster Knights Rugby Ground for the Young Enterprise South Yorkshire Area Awards Ceremoney to photograph the event, present an award and give the keynote speech. The night was a great celebration for the participants from schools around the South Yorkshire area, but the board was swept by a team called 'Bloomin Elle' who took more than three quarters of the gongs up for grabs. I presented the award for 'Service Development' which went to Bloomin Elle.

Young Enterprise is such a great thing, I did it when I was 17 and looking at how the students are so much more sophisticated in their ideas then we were back then, it makes for a really exciting way to spend a few hours a week.

Spending the weekend with the camera, shooting a private stable visit up at Rowley Manor tomorrow and then a private birthday party tomorrow night. Sunday is Ionians Rugby Club in the morning for their 2009 presentations and then on to a family shoot in Bielby in the afternoon.