SAINTLY youngsters at the Deane School have been learning about the world of big business.

As part of a national Young Enterprise scheme, pupils have been running their own business for the past year with the help of business advisors based at Bolton Enterprise Services in Washington Street.

Saintly are a group of pupils at Deane who were awarded £500 from the 3Ds Business Forum to buy equipment to make picture frames, chopping boards and other wooden items and have been selling the items at fairs throughout Bolton.

Young Enterprise is an educational charity which encourages groups of 14 to 19-year-olds to set up and run their own small company for a year.

Groups from around the country came together at a fair in Bolton to sell the products they designed.

Sponsor

The main event sponsor was Bolton and Bury Chamber and various other organisations supported the event, including Bolton Council commercial and leisure services, McDonalds, Bolton Moat House, Warner Village Cinemas, Modular Display, Aquila Shelters, Burger King Bolton, St Andrew's Travel, R and S Mellis, Debenhams plc, Prontaprint, Marks and Spencer, Scottish Power, Comet, BSS Coaches, Mike Cresswell, Al!ve rock band and the Bolton Evening News.

Helen Hardie, of Bolton and Bury Chamber, said: "Young Enterprise gives Bolton and Bury's young people valuable experience in setting up and running a small business.

"They can gain an NVQ level 2 qualification and the vital business skills of decision making, communication and business management."

Joanne Brierley, business advisor for Bolton Enterprise Services, said the scheme has helped pupils understand business.

She said: "It has helped to forge partnerships between businesses and schools, and, instead of being in a classroom all the time, they get the chance to get out there and do things."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.