STUDENTS are getting down to business in a challenge that will see them sell real products in a bid to make cash.

The Daily Echo is following the six schools involved in the Enterprise Challenge, supported by Bournemouth University, and, having visited The Bishop of Winchester, is now taking a look at Parkstone Grammar School, which has two teams taking part.

Also involved are Bournemouth School for Girls, Bournemouth School, QE School and Ferndown Upper.

The programme is well under way and students have been meeting regularly as they start work on their business.

At Parkstone, Lydia Stroud and Maddy Forster, both 14, have been named as MD of the teams.

This is no game – the pupils will be selling real products to real people and, hopefully, making real money.

Lynne Kelly, head of careers and enterprise at the school, said: “We’ve got two groups and they’ve all volunteered to do it and they don’t have to do business studies to do enterprise.

“They’re talking about logos and products. They were interviewed for the MD positions and I think it’s a brilliant opportunity.”

Deputy head David Hallsworth added: “They’re having to adapt to situations that they might not come across in school.

“They look at people who are successful in business and want to be like that. This programme gives them the opportunity to actually do that.”

The teams are working with real businesses – in Parkstone’s case solicitors Humphries Kirk and Hamworthy Heating.

Laura Edwards, from Humphries Kirk, said: “We want to give something back to the community and it’s carried on each year. Some of them have expressed an interest in law so they can talk to me about that as well.”

Ben Knowles, from Enterprise and Skills, added: “It’s really great to see how the girls have started working in the two groups. Some of the product ideas are really innovative this year. We look forward in seeing how they perform.”

Once products have been thought of and produced, the businesses will sell them at West Quay shopping centre in Southampton, Castlepoint and the Dolphin Centre.

The competition will end with a host of awards given out at a ceremony in February.

What the MDs had to say

PUPIL and team MD Lydia Stroud said: “I really like enterprise and I’ve done some before. I wanted to build my confidence and wider skills as well.”

Fellow MD Maddy Forster, said: “I’m new to the school and I wanted to get to know the area better. It’s the general skills, like team-work and communication.”