SCHOOLS from all over the county competed in a nationwide competition designed to help young people develop their business skills.

Bradon Forest School came second in the Young Enterprise Swindon and Wiltshire County Final on Thursday evening for their recyclables business.

Nine teams from schools including Bradon Forest School, St Joseph's Catholic College, The Commonweal School, St Mary's in Calne, Dauntsey School in Devizes, and St Augustin's in Trowbridge, were tasked with setting up their own small business in September 2016.

They showcased their products at a trade fair at Nationwide in December and another trade fair at the outlet centre in February, then pitched their plans to a Dragon's Den-esque panel of experts in March.

Last week they each put up a trade stand and made a presentation to local business leaders at Nationwide House, who provided the venue for the County Final.

The 12 judges then declared St Mary's team 'Lunar and Sol' the winners of the final.

The school will now go on to the regional finals in June, then possibly the national finals in London in July, and maybe even the international finals later in the year which will bring together the best teams from 17 countries.

The winning team sold a new range of tea products.

Other awards presented that evening included the award for most potential and best under-16s team.

The teams were judged on a variety of factors including teamwork, innovation, presentation, entrepreneurship, marketing and financial performance.

Development Manager for Young Enterprise in Wiltshire Andrew Martin was pleased by all of the teams' efforts.

He said: "It was a really fantastic evening, it was very busy, all the students and teachers and parents came along.

"The judges went round and talked to all the teams, it was a great way for them to learn lots of different business skills.

"The Bradon Forest team were very focused on preserving the environment."

Their team used recyclable glass jars to create new products, including 'lights in a jar', 'garden in a jar', sewing kit in a jar, and 'calm in a jar'.

Young Enterprise is a charity which encourages young people to harness their business skills and helps them develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as business owners and workers.

3.8 million young people have taken part in Young Enterprise programmes in the UK since the charity was established.

For more information, visit young-enterprise.org.uk