BUDDING entrepreneurs have proved their business acumen in a primary school's Young Apprentice Challenge.

All Year 6 children at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School in Yeadon were given a £4 loan each for their business, with the challenge to create and execute a business plan.

Over the course of three months, pupils worked hard to design, devise and build a business with innovative products that they brought to market. Products ranged from a large variety of Christmas gifts, crafts, hair scrunchies, bracelets, soap, cakes and sweets. Pupils used a number of creative tools to market and sell their products including running stalls after school, social media and various marketing literature and advertisements.

After three months of hard work, the challenge culminated in the pupils presenting their business plans, products and results to a boardroom of judges including their class teacher and teaching assistant, Mrs Filarowski and Mrs Meikle, headteacher Mr Power and governor Mr Megson.

The standard of presentations was judged to be outstanding - and every pupil's hard work and dedication paid dividends, with the young moguls raising an impressive profit of £1,911. This money will be spent on charitable donations in the local community, their class charity (Cancer Research), a treat trip in the summer and after consultation with the school council, new equipment for school.

The initial day 'in the boardroom' resulted in three finalists - Isla McLeer with a fudge business, Ciara Nuttall with a Christmas cracker business and Elsie Ingram with a cakes and treats business. Less than 48 hours later, they had to prepare for further questions and analysis after giving a second presentation providing a further business plan detailing how they could expand their business.

Headteacher Mr Power said it was an extremely hard decision to choose a winner from all of the talented finalists, but after careful consideration and painstaking deliberation, the top spot went to Isla’s Sweet Treats.

Isla said:"I really enjoyed doing the Young Apprentice Challenge. It was a great opportunity to learn new skills and create your own business. I was delighted to win and really appreciate the whole opportunity.”

Mr Power said he was proud of the children and their amazing business ideas.

"The whole class worked very hard and presented incredibly well. The children enjoyed the experience and developed their literacy and maths skills as well as their understanding of businesses," he added.