By Max Clarke

Tenner Tycoon, the UK’s nationwide enterprise competition for schools, is today celebrating the outstanding enterprise of this year’s young winners at an awards ceremony in London.
 


The event will celebrate and recognise the success of participants in Tenner Tycoon, a nationwide scheme run by Enterprise UK to find Britain’s youngest entrepreneurs. The scheme, which ran throughout March, loaned schoolchildren £10 to start their own business.

The challenge was to make money, make a difference, but also give back to their communities. 
 
This year, the competition helped to raise over £25,000 in ‘profits’ that were donated to a range of charities including the RSPCA, Barnardo’s and Cancer Research. From each of the 57 shortlisted entries, there was an average profit of £87.
 


This year’s winners ranged from 6 to 19 years old and included 12 year old Scott Chapman from Woodlands School, Derby, who held an event called ‘The Inspiration Station’ to inspire young people to start their own business. During the competition he made £750 profit to channel back into the project.
 
Georgie Chesworth, a seven-year old pupil at St Josephs Catholic Primary School in Preston won the Under 11 Award for her business ‘Georgie’s Teddy Tags’.

Georgie collected unwanted teddies from friends and family and created a personalised tag for them before auctioning them off. She raised £348.80 and donated it to the RSPCA.

 Peter Jones CBE, who spearheads Tenner Tycoon, said: 


“I want to thank all participants for their hard work and commitment during Tenner Tycoon. There have been so many inspiring stories and brilliant business ideas, which make this competition what it is: a showcase of the talent and ingenuity of young people in the UK.”
 


“Tenner Tycoon gives me great optimism for the future generation of entrepreneurs in this country,” said Mark Prisk MP, Minister for Business and Enterprise. “It is vital that we give children insight into enterprise at an early age, showing them how rewarding it can be to convert your own ideas into a business.

The Government wants to transform the ambition and aspiration of young people through this type of real business experience.
 
"This year's participants have highlighted the great culture of enterprise we have in this country and I am delighted to celebrate with the winners."
 



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