YOUNG entrepreneurs showcased their skills in front of business leaders - and television presenters - at the Venturefest exhibition in York.

Johnny Ball, father of DJ Zoe Ball, who has popularised maths and science with his television programmes and books, was at the event at York Racecourse yesterday to judge the offerings of future industry leaders.

Venturefest Yorkshire 2005 provided a platform for innovative minds of all ages as teams from schools across Yorkshire exhibited their inventions, ideas and business plans alongside more established businesses.

Mr Ball was on hand to judge entries to the Skillsfest Challenge - four industry challenges covering advanced engineering and manufacturing, bioscience, digital and food and drink.

He said: "All young people today have a better understanding of the world than any generation before. They are more able than any generation before.

"The curriculum is so thin it is inconsequential, what matters is their confidence, self-belief and their desire to aim high and achieve something.

"We have got a very active educational base in Yorkshire and there are lots of technological companies who need high flyers to join them.

"Britain, in technology terms, has always punched way above its weight and size - it's phenomenal."

A team from Brayton College won the bioscience section of Skillsfest for its work in producing greener diesel. The team was also awarded the innovative team award by Mr Ball and inventor Trevor Baylis, inventor of the wind-up radio.

Team member Liam Prescott, 15, said the seven-strong group was now exploring ways to develop its product, Friesel.

He said: "We make it from fresh oil or waste oil and it is the same price as normal diesel. It has shorter hydrogen chains and burns more easily at the same temperature as normal diesel, but with less emissions.

"We are going to develop it further."

The Skillsfest Challenge was won by Traffic Light Treats, a team from Nidderdale High School and Community College in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire.

The company has produced greetings cards which include recipes made from food produced in the local area. The cards also give details of the food producer and how to reach them.

Exhibitors at the events included Ugly Mugs, a company project run by pupils from Pocklington School, that prints mugs with the customer's own design.

A team from Archbishop Holgate's School in York exhibited its work with company Smith & Nephew, in Heslington, which has a strong relationship with the school.

Pupil John Hattam, 15, said: "Every year pupils are offered work developing ideas that they have.

"They have designed a plaster that doesn't need to be ripped off.

"Instead you get a high intensity blue light that can be shone on it and the plaster falls off.

"They asked us to look at other ways of using the adhesive, and we came up with things like wallpaper, and even hair gel."

Updated: 11:39 Thursday, February 03, 2005