ENTERPRISING students from a Fylde school have taken the business world by storm and scooped a number of awards for their efforts.

Forty youngsters from Lytham St Annes High formed Equinox, a school-based company which is part of the nationwide Young Enterprise scheme, at the beginning of the school year.

Since then, they have taken on all the requirements of a proper company, issuing shares, paying tax, holding regular board meetings, producing an annual report and even drawing wages.

They could also have been declared bankrupt if things had gone badly.

Thankfully, the opposite is true with huge profits due back to the shareholders and charities at the end of the project.

This has also helped the youngsters sweep the board in the Lancashire final of the Young Enterprise competition where they beat other schools to a place in the North West final on June 14.

Equinox as a company became involved in organising school dances, the selling of refreshments and mementos at such events, setting up stands at local supermarkets as well as making and selling cards, hair scrunchies, key rings and much more.

Judges in the Lancashire final were impressed with their presentation skills and business acumen and awarded several trophies including best presentation, best annual report and best overall company.

If they pass the next hurdle they will go to the national final in London and then on to represent the UK in Malta, which is no more than the youngsters deserve, according to the school's development officer John Belton.

He said: "They really are an exceptional crew and some companies could learn a lot from what they have achieved."

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