BUDDING entrepreneurs from a host of local schools battled it out in the finals of Young Enterprise at County Hall.

More than 100 secondary school pupils made up of nine teams took part in the Worcestershire and Hereford finals.

The 16 and 17-year-olds showcased their products on trade stands around the council chamber and then took to the floor to pitch their business idea.

The overall winner was Dynamic from Malvern St James School. The team produced a book on mindfulness and were also awarded prizes for Best Presentation and Finance.

In second place was Hidden from Tudor Grange Academy in Worcester. The team designed tee-shirts with an anti-bullying message. They also won a prize for Innovation.

The judges were impressed by the themes, boldness and topicality of the products chosen by Dynamic and Hidden.

On the night, Millennium from King's School Worcester were awarded prizes for Social Ethical & Environmental, Best Trade Stand and the team's adviser won the Business Adviser award.

Best Use of Technology went to Illuminate from Malvern St James and Best company report went to Embark from Bromsgrove School.

Best MD went to Fleur Berry-Jones, MD of Okoola from Hereford Cathedral School, Best Teamwork for Terra Clothing from Hereford College of Arts and Centre Lead award to Dan Attfield from Hereford Cathedral School.

Samantha Roach, principal at Tudor Grange Academy Worcester, said “This is only our second year of entry.

"I am so proud of our students who presented their company, Hidden, with such confidence and without scripts. "The message behind their company is about anti-bullying and their t-shirts have a slogan to this effect.

"Part of the proceeds will be given to Heads Together founded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry."

The school will have a Hidden day on Friday, May 26 and will welcome Lucy Alexander, who has campaigned about online bullying since her son Felix killed himself in April last year.

Students have also been chosen as ambassadors by Kooth to support their mental health support website.

Catherine Driscoll, director of children, families and communities, who spoke at the final, said: "I was hugely impressed by the high standard of businesses founded by the students.

"They worked extremely hard and it was a pleasure to see all the fantastic products being displayed at County Hall.

"Young Enterprise is a wonderful programme which sets up young people with lots of skills that they need when they leave school."

Paul Moult, chairman of Young Enterprise, added: "Young students who do Young Enterprise are three times more likely to set up their own company compared to students who don't do the programme."

The Young Enterprise event is sponsored by Worcestershire County Council's Connecting Schools and Business programme.

Team Dynamic will now battle it out at the West Midlands finals being held on June 15.