BUDDING entrepreneurs from a York private school have been riding a wave of success as they bid to be named North Yorkshire’s most enterprising team.

Adapt, a team of youngsters from St Peter's School, who have both designed and made personalised stickers for cell phone chargers - took the top prize in the Young Enterprise contest run at York’s 2014 Venturefest exhibition for hi-tech and innovative firms earlier this month.

They then went on to chalk up second place at a national Young Enterprise trade fair in Stratford before winning the Young Enterprise York area contest – which earns them the right to compete in the North Yorkshire regional finals in May.

If they win that, they qualify for the Yorkshire and Humber finals which, in turn, opens doors to possible national and European competition finals.

Young Enterprise manager, Jill Tinsley, said: “More teams than ever before are taking part in Young Enterprise competitions in North Yorkshire this year.

“Naturally we were delighted to be able to raise our profile at Venturefest as we work to engage with more young people but, more importantly, it means more students than ever are being given the chance to learn something about what it’s like to run your own business.

“Selling from a trade stand means they have to think about presentation, how to behave when chatting to potential customers, how to begin a conversation – and how to close a deal.

“It’s great experience for them but it’s also really rewarding to see how, sometimes, even the quiet ones come to the fore and grow in confidence.

“Every year we think we’ve seen the best-ever product but then someone comes up with something better."

Adapt have faced competition this year from Ampleforth College, Queen Ethelburga’s, York’s Millthorpe School and Fulford School, Ryedale School from Nawton, the Graham School from Scarborough, Sherburn High, Harrogate Grammar, Harrogate High, the town’s St Aidan’s School and Henshaw’s College, Skipton Girls’ High, South Craven College, Ermysted’s Grammar and Ripon Grammar.

Each has been given the opportunity to take part in a series of trade fairs, both regionally and nationally, giving them the opportunity to test their selling mettle in competition for one-off prizes.

However, their future participation in the remaining 2014 Young Enterprise Company Programme depended on their performance in the North Yorkshire regional finals.

Adapt clinched the York title and go through with York runners-up Fulford School to face Harrogate High and St Aidan’s and Ermysted’s Grammar and Skipton Girls’ High from the Craven area.

The six teams will do battle at the North Yorkshire regional finals to be held at the York Company of Merchant Adventurers’ headquarters in May.