Young entrepreneurs test their sales skills at Brent Cross shopping centre (From Harrow Times)

Young entrepreneurs test their sales skills at Brent Cross shopping centre

11:36am Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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BUDDING business brains have been putting their sales skills on show at Brent Cross shopping centre this weekend.

Students from across north London who are taking part in the Young Enterprise programme set up stalls in the malls with the aim of selling their goods and services to the public.

The 20 schools have been working on their pupil led company profiles since the start of the academic year, in September, and could choose whether they felt the market conditions at Brent Cross were right for their products.

The pupils, aged 15 to 19 from Barnet, Harrow and Brent, have elected a board of directors and organised the marketing and financing of the company, and the event at the shopping centre gave them a chance to gain experience of selling in a live environment.

Gosbert Chagula, development manager for Young Enterprise, said: “Sales is life and the pupils are learning they have to be able to sell themselves, which they will have to do when they start going for jobs.

“It makes the learning process more attractive. They are having to use their initiative and be brave enough to approach people, so it is taking them out of their comfort zone.

“They have to work as a team and the skills they pick up can be applied broadly, whether in work or social situations. Most of them have really relished the opportunity.”

Working with experienced business mentors, the pupils have developed a wind range of products including books T-shirts and jewellery.

Any profits will go to paying the shareholders or sent on to charity. Each company then has to present their ideas to a panel of judges who will decide which ones progress to the next stage of the competition. Winners could end up pitching their company against the best in Europe at the finals.

Pupils from John Lyon School, in Middle Road, Harrow, developed a canvas photo printing service to shoppers, which they claimed was “taking photography to the next level”.

Marketing director for the company, 17-year-old Abhi Puttni, said: “We have learnt a lot about communication with clients and people who want to buy from us.

“It has really helped my organisational skills. It has been a lot of fun and it is like a natural high when you make a sale.”

Dominique Tan, 17, is director of a sweet jewellery company set up by pupils at North London Collegiate School, in Cannons Drive, Edgware.

She said the team would work until 9pm on school nights designing and making the bracelets, pendants, and charms in the shape of sweets.

“We have learnt a lot about entrepreneurial skills but this is the first time we have had experience of dealing with the public,” she said.

“It has been challenging but it is a really good experience.”