26th April 2002
BDA BOSS CONGRATULATES YOUNG ENTERPRISE ACHIEVERS

Chief executive of Barnsley Development Association (BDA) John Penney (right) has presented a team of business students from Barnsley College (l-r Adam Utley, Rachel Sikora, Alex Cole, Jen Wie Tse and Gemma Cave) with the winning trophy at this year’s Young Enterprise Annual Achievers’ Awards.

BDA was the sponsor of the Barnsley heat of this year’s competition, which saw four teams, two from Barnsley College and two from Penistone Grammar School taking part in the year long Young Enterprise Company Programme.

The national programme involves young entrepreneurs, aged between 15 and 19, setting up and running their own company over the course of one academic year. They receive support and advice from local companies who act as mentors.
Mr Penney together with Pollyanna boss Rita Britton and general manager of the Alhambra Centre Sonia Kolomijez, judged the four Barnsley entrants at the end of their projects. They were Tarn Trends and Glasstastic from Barnsley College and Funky Things and Fiddly Bitz from Penistone Grammar School.

The winning company Tarn Trends produced and sold colourful bracelets, belts and hairgrips made from glass beads threaded onto safety pins, which were then made completely safe.

Tarn Trends will now represent Barnsley at the South Yorkshire area final to be held at Tankersley Manor, Sheffield in May. If successful they will go on to the regional final in York in June in a bid to reach the national final to be held at the Savoy Hotel in London on 24 July.

John Penney said that Barnsley Development Agency supports the competition because: “The programmes are run on a ‘learning by doing principle’ which sees our young people gaining real, hands-on experience, as well as having the opportunity for a formal recognition of the skills and abilities they develop via the Young Enterprise Examination.

“I’m delighted to see so much initiative and entrepreneurship evident in Barnsley’s youth. All the entries were of a very high calibre and this bodes well for the town’s future prosperity.”

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Barnsley Development Agency
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© 2002