Budding entrepreneurs from Skipton’s Ermysted’s Grammar School pitched their selling skills against other schools at York’s Designer Outlet.

The school team was one of six from North Yorkshire schools to take part in the trade fair organised by Young Enterprise as part of the charity’s 2014 Company Programme.

Each team took up the challenge to set up shop in the centre’s main concourse, spending the day selling goods the pupils had either sourced or made themselves.

While their main objective was to sell as much as they could, their selling skills and their trade stands were all assessed by secret shoppers, who helped judges decide who should win the honours of the day.

In the end, Ermysted’s Cappi team was presented with the award for the best product – an innovative clip-on plastic bottle top for pop cans, acquired from a Yorkshire wholesaler.

Two other schools won awards for the best stand and best selling skills.

“Every year, we think we’ve seen one of the best ideas ever and then, a new team seems to come along and trump it,” said North Yorkshire Young Enterprise manager, Jill Tinsley.

“The imagination, creativity and innovation is always amazing and 2014 is no exception. All the teams taking part in the trade fair were a credit to themselves and to their schools and they should all be proud of what they achieved on the day.”

The Ermysted’s team will now go forward to the Craven area final on March 27 at Skipton Building Society when it will be up against teams from South Craven School, Settle College and Skipton Girls’ High School. The North Yorkshire final will take place in May with the overall winner qualifying for the Yorkshire and Humber competition and onto the British finals.