Teens sell their creations in social enterprise challenge

Year 9 pupils from secondary schools in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas have created their own businesses and they are selling their products to the public.

The Social Enterprise & Business challenge is run by Portsmouth charity Faith + Football. All profits from the challenge are donated to the charity and the winner gets a trip to India to see where the money raised is spent.

Last month, Cascades Shopping Centre played host to the students’ most recent trading day where 24 businesses, run by the students all sold their hand­made products.

Faith + Football founder, Mick Mellows, said: ‘It’s the first stage in the competition that we’re able to really see the incredible range of products that the newly-formed businesses have created.

‘We’re always astounded at how inventive the students are.

‘Watching the burgeoning entrepreneurs practicing and evolving their sales pitches during the day and selling the products that they’ve worked so hard on is brilliant.

‘We are really grateful for the partnership we have with Cascades and being there is something everyone really looks forward to.’

Rhoda Joseph, centre manager, said she was delighted to welcome them back to the centre.

She said: ‘Having the entrepreneurial students in the centre creates a great buzz on the day.

‘This is the fifth year that the challenge has been here and some of the products have been really creative.’

Mr Mellows said: ‘The attitude and professionalism of the students was superb, each company worked really hard and the students learnt some invaluable lessons about what it takes to succeed in retail.’

The next trading day for the Social Enterprise and Business Challenge is Saturday, April 23 at The Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant. To find out more go to faithandfootball.org.uk.