BUDDING business stars will be pitching their products to the public at Webbs Garden Centre in Wychbold, Droitwich on Saturday, March 7.

More than 13 Young Enterprise companies representing schools in Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest will be setting up their pitches for the first time in the trade fair which runs from 10am to 4pm.

Chairman of the Bromsgrove & Redditch YE board Melanie Halstead said: “I believe that creating a real environment for students to showcase their businesses and interact with real customers is critical to the whole experience of the company programme. Supported by Webbs - a local, well established business - the students will have the opportunity to test out the market and develop valuable people and sales skills. I have no doubt that the trade fair will give the students the spring board they need to progress their business and develop themselves as entrepreneurs.”

Young Enterprise is the UK’s largest enterprise education charity and the company programme, its flagship learning experience, is for students aged 15 to 19 and starts at the beginning of the academic year. Participating students form their own business, then develop and market a service or product. The new businesses will be selling a wide variety of products from home decorations and handmade candles to wooden laser cut wine racks.

Julia Neale, Young Enterprise manager for the area said: “Naturally all the students participating are hoping to sell as much as they can but the objectives behind Young Enterprise are much broader than financial success. It’s really about equipping our young people with transferable employability skills that will be useful to them in later life.”

The event will be opened by Webbs chairman Ed Webb, who added, “I’m really looking forward to meeting the Young Enterprise teams and seeing their products. As a company Webbs is committed to supporting worthwhile local projects and are very happy to encourage these business entrepreneurs in the world of retail.”