A TRIO of teams from a Barnoldswick school have finished in the top 20 of a regional business competition.

Fourteen schools from across the North West yielding 114 teams took part in the competition, of which West Craven High School were making their first appearance with six teams of students.

Earlier this year, 28 Year 9 budding business men and women from the school put their knowledge and skills to the test when they took part in the Mosaic Enterprise Challenge, an event which is held in conjunction with Business in the Community and The Prince’s Trust.

On the day, the students were split into teams to complete a questionnaire about ethical business and sustainability and also joined in with an online business simulation game that replicates the real world.

Local business mentors were paired with the teams on the day, and from the start students were switched on, listening to their mentors and making ethical and sensible business decisions with regards to sales, advertising, production, expansion and market research for their chosen topics.

The students then faced an anxious wait to see where their efforts placed them against other competing schools.

Parambir Randhawa, who was part of the leading West Craven team, said: "The Mosaic Enterprise Challenge was as near to life simulation of business. For me it was great to work with the mentors and get a key insight in to the decisions entrepreneurs have to make."

Teammate Courtney Thornber said: “It feels really good to have finished in the top 20 of a big competition like this and the experience has developed my skills.”

Gary Curson, Business and ICT teacher at West Craven, said: “To have three West Craven teams finish in the top 20 is a fantastic achievement considering it is the first year we have entered the competition and the students have only been studying the subject since September. A big well done to all the students involved.”