Enterprising event for Durham youngsters

County Durham pupils showed off their entrepreneurial talents at a special Premier League Enterprise Challenge event hosted by Karbon Homes. Groups representing Consett Academy, St Bedes RC Comprehensive (Peterlee) and Tanfield School (Stanley) pitched their ideas of how to improve attendances at Sunderland AFC home games to guest judges including Foundation of Light and Karbon staff. The team from Consett Academy were named the winners, with their 'Lads and Dads' and festive 'Red and White Christmas Hats' promotions impressing the panel.

Today's Enterprise Challenge was fantastic and all the youngsters taking part should be very proud of themselves. We've enjoyed some great ideas and presentations, and there are definitely a few entrepreneurs here. Karbon is very proud to be able to support Foundation of Light, delivering this programme across the region.

Paul Moralee, Karbon Homes Community Investment and Customer Service Manager

Sharon Hopkins, Peer Assisted Learning Coordinator at Consett Academy, added: "Our pupils have really enjoyed taking part in the Enterprise Challenge and it's brought a lot of new skills and ideas into the classroom. "Foundation of Light has allowed us to enhance our curriculum and it's been fantastic to be involved in this finale which brings together so many youngsters in friendly competition. "One of my objectives was for students to improve their interpersonal skills which they have achieved through the core programme and presentation." The Premier League Enterprise Challenge, which is run in partnership with Sport Relief, uses the backdrop of professional football clubs’ business models to deliver enterprise education to hundreds of thirteen to fifteen-year-olds in sessions run by Premier League and English Football League clubs. Craig Martin, Foundation of Light Delivery Coordinator for North Durham, Washington and South Tyneside, said: "I'd like to thank all of the schools who took part today and congratulate all of the pupils who took part on the fantastic effort. "The judges were really impressed with all of the presentations that took place and you can see how the pupils have taken to the challenge. "Finally, I'd like to thank Karbon Homes who support all of the work we do in North Durham. As well as financial support they've kindly allowed us to use their boardroom today which gives the challenge a 'wow' factor youngsters love."