YOUNG business brains were put to the test in a regional competition held in York.

The Apprentice-style Company Programme competition, organised by UK-based charity Young Enterprise, took place at the York Designer Outlet.

Young people from Yorkshire had the opportunity to compete for a number of awards for the businesses they had established and nurtured since September.

The Young Enterprise Company Programme, involving more than 70 secondary schools and colleges, challenged students aged 15 to 19, to create their own product and run a business around it, taking on roles such as managing director, secretary and chairman.

The project encouraged young entrepreneurship in retail, making York Designer Outlet the perfect location for the event, said organisers.

At the weekend, ten groups of students competed against each other in a bid to be crowned the Best Sales Team, the Best Trade Stand and the Best Product, judged by members of the designer outlet management team.

Winners on Saturday included Kaleidoscope, a company created by pupils at St Peter’s School, York, who won Best Trade Stand and the Sweet Rations team from The Forest School, Knaresborough, who won Best Product.

Winners on Sunday included Lunae Lux, from Harrogate High School, who scooped the Best Trade Stand, and the Distinct team from King James’ School, Knaresborough, who claimed the title for Best Product.

Mike Thomas, centre manager at the York Designer Outlet, said: “We were very pleased to be hosting Yorkshire’s Young Enterprise trade fair, an innovative and inspiring programme for young and enthusiastic business leaders.

“With over 120 designer and fashion brands, as well as over 3.5 million shoppers a year, we are experts in the retail world, making us perfectly placed to provide budding business minds with an opportunity to experience the retail world.”