Dorset and Somerset solicitors’ firm Humphries Kirk is helping to develop successful businessmen and women of the future by mentoring a team from Parkstone Grammar School for this year’s Bournemouth and Poole Enterprise Challenge Awards.
Laura Edwards, paralegal at Humphries Kirk is guiding team Artemis, meaning Goddess of the Hunt. The team of 10 female entrepreneurs aged 14 and 15 is manufacturing a range of retro gifts including vintage candles and candy canes.
Laura said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Enterprise Awards Challenge, which teaches young people about how to run a business effectively and provides an opportunity to engage with young people in the community.”
The aim of the annual Enterprise Challenge is to encourage entrepreneurial behaviour in young people across the UK. The students are tasked with making and selling real products to real people to experience the challenges of running a small business from the boardroom to the frontline.
Laura adds: “Team Artemis has fantastic ideas and great products. They started the process from scratch, by manufacturing a product and then selling it at trade fairs. After Christmas they will begin liquidating the company and in February they will attend the final awards ceremony.”
Team Artemis is competing against teams from six other schools in the area. The team demonstrating the best business learning will be announced at the Enterprise Awards ceremony in February. There are also several individual awards for outstanding performance.