Students are just the job

By [cgordon] cherie gordon herald reporter

PLYMOUTH'S finest young entrepreneurs have been rewarded for their business talent at an all-day event in the city.

You're Hired saw 39 students take part in an Apprentice-style event, completing a series of challenges in a bid to win over a panel of judges.

Out of the group of 17-year-old pupils, three were awarded the accolade of being tipped as Plymouth's next bright businesses prospects.

During the day the students were given three tasks: to produce a new environmentally-friendly product, carry out research into plankton recording and produce an environmental impact report.

The aim of the competition, organised by the Tamar Education Business Partnership, was to find the brightest new business talent in the city.

"We've got the 39 most employable 17 year-olds in Plymouth here now," said KPMG's Mark Poles, who masterminded the You're Hired idea.

"The standard of work we've seen has been to a professional level."

The lucky 39 students made their way through to the You're Hired final after a number of school-based heats.

Rosie Cook, from Devonport High School for Girls, took part in the event yesterday, which was held at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel.

"It was a really challenging day but great when you see the final result," she said.

"Everybody has been so good and that is what makes it so challenging, the level of everybody is so high.

"It is an achievement to get here and I will take a lot away from this."

The competition is supported by local and national businesses KPMG, Brittany Ferries, the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, Princess Yachts, the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Cowlin Construction, CDS The Range and The Herald. Representatives from these businesses were given the tough task of choosing the top three bright young business stars of the future.

Oliver MacRae, from St Boniface Roman Catholic College, was named as the overall winner of Plymouth's future employee of the year 2009 award, with Emily Readman and Verity Westcott, both from Devonport High School for Girls, runners up.

"I am really happy to have won it, is an honour," said 17-year-old Oliver.

"It was nice to see all our hard work come together at the end. It just brings everyone together as a team."

The teenager is now looking forward to claiming his prize – a work placement with one of the businesses that supported You're Hired.

"I will definitely want to take up the work experience and see how it goes, even if it is just for the experience.

"I haven't a clue who I will go with yet, but I hope to have a chat with all of them."

The Herald news editor James Garnett said the event was a huge success.

"The event has shown what an incredible hotbed of talent Plymouth is," he said.

"From the word go, from 6.30am, these students were firing on all cylinders and came up with a huge amount of ideas and showed some fantastic business skills.

"They worked amazingly hard for this challenge and they can all be incredibly proud of what they have achieved."