Company and Team programme students enjoyed a successful day’s trading at their Christmas Trade Fairs in December at the Outlet, Banbridge, Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena and Main Street, Omagh.

The students sold products they had developed themselves in the Young Enterprise Northern Ireland Company and Team Programmes, funded by the Department of Education and supported by Royal Mail. 

The goods and services on sale included Christmas crafts, cards and hand-made products.  The students demonstrated a range of innovative product ideas, including bee houses, firelighters made from recycled materials and educational workshops for primary school children, in addition to seasonal fayre.

The trade fair is the next step in the Company of the Year Competition where the best company will represent Northern Ireland in the Young Enterprise UK finals in London in July, 2010.

Barbara Roulston, Head of External Relations for Royal Mail, who support the Team Programme, commented, “Helping people connect is at the heart of what Royal Mail does.  Connections are vital to any young entrepreneur, so we are delighted to be supporting Young Enterprise because it enables young people to develop a wide range of business skills and create better prospects for their future careers.”