SELLING their wares to a captive market were enterprising Essex teenagers who descended on Chelmsford city centre.
After setting up eye-catching stands in High Chelmer shopping centre, the youngsters tried to sell their unique home-made products to passers-by.
They were all taking part in the Young Enterprise programme, in which teams of pupils aged 15 to 19 run their own company over the course of an academic year, supported by a volunteer business adviser.
This includes marketing and financing a product or service of their own choice and the annual Christmas Trade Fayre provides an ideal opportunity to sell their goods to the public.
At the same time they were being watched by judges who had a host of trophies to award at close of business.
These were presented by the deputy mayor of Chelmsford, Sandra Pontin.
Winning the best trade stand award was Transition, a team of students from Chelmsford County High School for Girls. They compiled a spiral-bound pocket-sized book, aimed at girls aged 10 to 11, packed with tips on issues they may face.
Finance director Sarina Mathew, 17, said: "We thought back to when we were that age, switching from primary to secondary school and wrote down a list of things we wished we had known then.
"The books have been selling well today, with parents and grandparents buying them for stocking fillers."
Selling their unique T-shirts – a morph caricature of Arnold Schwarzenegger and composer Bach with the slogan I'll be Bach – were the team known as Capitalized from The Boswells School in Springfield.
Student Molly Reid had designed the T-shirts, which the team had tied with a festive ribbon, priced £10.
Alex Roberston, 17, who was awarded the Judges' Award for his marketing strategy knowledge, explained: "We chose T-shirts as they are popular and easy to manufacture.
Selling a host of handmade gifts and Christmas decorations were a team of pupils from Thriftwood School in Galleywood. Known as Acorn Enterprises, the members were keenly promoting their wooden Christmas bunting, personalised pictures frames, owl doorstops and sweet stocking fillers.
They scooped the runners-up prize for the best team programme.
The Best Overall Company prize went to Puzzles Bytes from King Edward VI Grammar School, for their innovative and colourful puzzle books aimed at pre-schoolers.
Patrick Johnson, 16, said: "The idea is to help children learn the alphabet by colouring in blocks which are arranged to form each letter.
"We have also included a different animal whose name starts with that letter on each page. The aim is that children are having fun and learning at the same time.
In April the students will be able to compete for the County Company of the Year title and the winners will go on to represent Essex at the regional finals, who in turn will compete for the UK title.
