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Youngsters praised in Future Business Magnates awards.

A Durham awards ceremony has paid tribute to the entrepreneurs of the future, with business ideas “far beyond what you would expect.”

The Future Business Magnates (FBM) awards saw 12 schools from across the county give a 20-minute presentation in front of three top local business people.

John Tindale, event coordinator, said: “Some of the ideas have been way beyond what you would expect from 12 year olds.

There is no doubt that if these ideas had come up in industry, they would be out on the street in no time at all.“

The winner, from Durham Federation, a recent alliance between Durham Community Business School and Fyndoune School, was a recycling business that collected driftwood and other beach debris to make home decorations.

Other businesses, started in November 2008, included mesh tops for recycling bins, a complete grow your own vegetable pack and a range of water saving devices for the home and office.

Councillor Neil Foster, cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Development at Durham County Council, said: “The idea of bringing together young students and local businesses for such a project is a success on so many levels.

“Showing the students how a real business works and the aspects to running a business coupled with encouraging mentors to get involved with the community has proved to be a great idea, with all the parties enjoying the experience enormously.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .