Young business men and women of tomorrow will be setting out their stalls at a special market event next weekend.
The 31 finalists of Bradford Council's Step Up Enterprise Market Challenge will each have their own stalls on Darley Street in Bradford city centre on Saturday 26 June.
Each team earned their pitch through a challenge set up by the Step Up Enterprise team, a scheme set up earlier this year to get children and young people involved in innovative business projects with the aim of finding the district's future entrepreneurs. Teams - ranging from school groups to youth and community organisations - had to design a product and present it to a 'Dragon's Den' style panel.
Those who survived the experience were awarded a business mentor* and £100 to progress their product.
Items on sale at the market, which will be open from 10am to 2pm, include hugable warm cushions, hand-crafted lanterns, smoothies and snacks, scarves made from recycled materials, CD/vinyl clocks, sleepover bags and a thumb-wrestling arena.
The Lord Mayor of Bradford Coun Peter Hill is coming along to the event.
In the run-up to the event, the teams have continued to work on their businesses and attracted the attention of local businesses. These include the bookmark designed by a group at St Stephen's CE Primary being sold in Bradford branches of Waterstones, a Hanson School team receiving an offer for their t-shirts from Polar Ford and an Allerton Youth Cafe team - Youth in the Booth - receiving £1,700 from social enterprise group UnLtd towards a CD album they have produced.
John Tague, MD of Seabrook Crisps has also donated banners and crisps to two teams from St William's Catholic Primary to attract customers to their stalls.
Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Children's Services and Education, said: "These young people have worked very hard on their individual projects and this event is the finale of their efforts. Everyone involved in this scheme will have gained a valuable insight into the business world and hopefully some will be inspired to pursue this further in their careers."
Successful traders on the day will have the chance to win a share of prizes worth up to £2,000. The prizes for most profit and best marketing will be awarded at 3pm.
