Final hurdle for young tycoons

SIX businesses of the future have reached the final of the annual Oldham Schools Fast and Furious Young Entrepreneurs competition.

The 2010 final is tomorrow at the Oldham Sixth Form College Theatre, starting at 6.30pm.

The competition has involved teams from Oldham secondary schools in internal business-plan competitions, with the best two teams from each school facing a further ordeal — a half-hour grilling by a Dragons’ Den-style panel composed of local business men and women.

The Dragons included Robin Prescott from Hathershaw-based New Deal for Communities; Anwar Choudhury, Oldham Council’s Supply Chain Officer; Craig Davenport, of Hollinwood-based Thorpe Whyman Briggs Architects; and Julie Jones, of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

The Dragons decided that six of the best businesses would go through to the finale, where each young business person will be welcomed on stage to receive certificates and prizes — and to find out who will be judged to be the Best of the Best Fast and Furious overall winner for 2010.

Competition co-ordinator Rebecca Nilsen, from North Chadderton School, said: “Fast and Furious is a prestigious and well-regarded annual event now in its fourth year, attended by the Mayor of Oldham and business celebrities.

“Video footage of interviews with the business teams will be screened and the finale evening itself will be recorded and edited into a commemorative DVD. It has always proved to be an inspirational evening providing an early glimpse of Oldham’s next generation of successful entrepreneurs.”