STUDENTS have worked with business mentors to set up their own company as part of a Young Enterprise Programme with their school.

The group of Brimsham Green School sixth form pupils have set up a company called Aquila Enterprises to sell framed pieces of handmade pixel art based on their favourite game and cartoon characters.

They worked together to choose the business venture, and which products to produce and sell at a trade fair at the Cribbs Causeway mall in South Gloucestershire on Saturday, February 25.

Their careers education coordinator Maria Filer said: “We are the only school in South Gloucestershire participating in the programme. The students have to set up and run a real company for a year.

“They select a board of directors, carry out market research, develop a product or service, manage their finances, promote their company, market and sell to the public.

“The students have worked really hard and are anxiously looking forward to the spring trade fair.”

The Young Enterprise Programme is a charity which works with schools throughout the UK to help them to develop personal and business skills to help eradicate youth unemployment and allow young people to reach their full potential.

As part of the programme the Brimsham Green School students meet outside of school hours for training, which includes assistance to set up their businesses social media accounts, presentation skills training and company report writing to help with literature about their products.

A lot of effort also went in to research of pricing structures and suppliers for their art work. They used family contacts to help with fabric supplies, display stands and banners.

In December they met with business mentors at Marshfield Bakery in Dyrham to produce and sell cookies for a trade fair to raise funds for their main venture.

The bakery helped the students with recipes and production and they carried out their own market research using trial samples.

They sold four different types of cookies at St Nicholas Market, Bristol, as well as at school awards evening and concerts.

To help them to prepare for their trade fair next month some aspects they were judged on included customer service, layout of stand, their journey, and their products unique selling point (USP).