Meadowhall opens its doors to young enterprise
Published: 02 February, 2012
A host of young entrepreneurs will descend on Meadowhall shopping centre this Saturday as part of the region’s 2012 Young Enterprise Trade Fair.
For the third year in succession, Meadowhall has committed space to enable 19 Young Enterprise companies from across Yorkshire and the Humber, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire to sell their wares from 8am-8pm.
Stalls will decorate mall spaces on the Lower High Street and Lower Arcade, selling items from bespoke jewellery to wooden wine presentation boxes, travel tags, peg doll kits and more.
The Young Enterprise Company Programme provides students with the opportunity to set up and run their own real company over one academic year with the support and guidance of a Young Enterprise Business Adviser.
Valerie Sprague, Young Enterprise manager, said: “The purpose of the trade fair is to give the students a chance to hone their skills such as selling, marketing, communication and teamwork.
“Not only does taking part in the trade fair enable the students to transfer these skills into the workplace, but most of all it gives them the confidence and aspiration to achieve much more than they ever thought possible.
“I am so proud to be working with these students who I know will go onto greater things in life and proud to be working in partnership with Meadowhall.”
Darren Pearce, Meadowhall centre director, said: “This is the third year we’ve supported the Young Enterprise initiative and it’s inspiring to see so many young people actively learning about business. These are skills they will be able to take with them all the way through life.”
Event organisers are inviting members of the public to get involved by conducting a ‘mystery shop’ and providing feedback on the young entrepreneurs’ stalls, preceding an awards ceremony in the afternoon.
