NEXT week is Plymouth Enterprise Week – and one of the highlights will be The Herald Youth Awards 2008 on Thursday.

Young people from the city who have shown 'entrepreneurial flair' have been nominated for the awards by parents and teachers.

There are two major categories: Most Enterprising Youth in the Community and Most Enterprising Youth in Business. Those young people – all under 18 years old – who have been nominated have given their time and effort to help improve their community or develop a business idea.

The Most Enterprising Youth in the Community award will recognise the hard work of young people who are helping to make Plymouth a better place. They may be involved in projects at school, at community centres, or at youth clubs.

The nominees are a group of students from Notre Dame school who created a vision of how young people want to see Plymouth, the DY2K Bonfire Project team who organised a crime-free fireworks display in Devonport, and students from St Boniface College who launched a big brother and sister mentoring scheme.

The Most Enterprising Youth in Business award will recognise the city's future entrepreneurs, celebrating the enterprise of Plymouth's young people.

The nominees are Charlie Archbold, 17, for his leadership in this year's Young Enterprise scheme; Martin Herd, 17, for hosting the Chew TV internet channel and pupils at Woodfield Primary School for setting up their own bank.

Other awards next Thursday include the University of Plymouth Business Ideas Challenge Award, the University of Plymouth Student Volunteer of the Year Award and the University of Plymouth FLUX Award.

The Schools Herald Team of The Year award will also be presented, as will the Tamar Education Business Partnership's Young Enterprise Challenge award and the awards for the winners of the Plymouth Schools Enginuity Challenge.

The youth awards will be handed out at 4pm at City College Plymouth. Sponsors of the awards – now in their third year – are City College Plymouth, the University of Plymouth and Apex Care Solutions Ltd, which enables people with learning disabilities to get access to opportunities.

Clare Jardine, The Herald's deputy editor, said: "The nominees for next Thursday's awards all deserve to win – so it will be a tough job for the judges.

"It will be another excellent The Herald Youth Awards evening and we wish all the nominees good luck."

Key events during next week's Enterprise Week include the 'INSPIRE' skills festival at Plymouth Albion Rugby Club on Wednesday. To find out more about Enterprise Week see the www.plymouthenterpriseweek.com website.