Budding young entrepreneurs showed off their business skills in a way which would have impressed even Sir Alan Sugar in the final of the Young Enterprise competition hosted by the University of Wales, Newport.

St Joseph's High School swept the board with their talent-scouting business Flair, scooping the awards for best team, best product, best presentation, best use of IT, best trade stand, and best company report.

The team will go on to represent Newport and Monmouthshire in the Gwent Finals - with the aim of going through to the national finals.

"The aim of Flair was to promote local talent, both bands and individual artists, from the south Wales area," said team member Mathew Hughes.

"Our search has revealed that we've got a wealth of local talent and we've included them all on a CD entitled Found' which features music from various bands and information about gigs, contact details for local artists and an interactive quiz.

"We've found talent that's better than Goldie Lookin' Chain - and my tip for the top is Newport band Marks Set Go," he said.

To compete in the annual event, the sixth formers had to form and register their own company, devise a business plan, raise share capital, and produce an annual report and accounts. Most importantly, they had to ensure that their company trades successfully in its specific market place.

"The standard of entries this year was particularly high and it was no easy task for the judges to pick the winners," said the event's host, Jonathan Deacon, of Newport Business School, who is chair of the area board.

"The young people who have presented their business ideas here today prove that the future of entrepreneurship in Wales looks very healthy indeed. They are to be applauded for the creativity and commitment they have shown to their business ideas."

1:39pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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