BUDDING entrepreneurs went head-to-head in a business challenge at the Eden Shopping Centre on Sunday.

A total of 19 teams from schools around south Bucks battled it out to be named the county's top business brains at the Young Enterprise trade fair.

Organisers said interest in the Young Enterprise scheme, which helps inspire youngsters to become the businesspeople of the future, is at an all-time high in the county.

Mary Cloake, Development Manager for Young Enterprise, said: "The interest and support from the local business community is the best it's ever been. Businesses are really opening their eyes to Young Enterprise and companies are saying they want to get behind us and improve opportunities for young people.

"It was a huge success in terms of learning more about running their businesses. Students learned a huge amount about selling, the importance of getting a good stand and getting the presentation right and engaging with customers.

"They think the customers will flock in but they have to engage with them. For some of them it's the first selling they've done and they tried different tactics throughout the day."

The environmental award was won by Holmer Green Upper School, the best trade stand prize went to Sir William Borlase's School and the overall winners were St Mary's School from Gerrards Cross for their driving school voucher scheme.

Also among the winners were one of the two groups representing John Hampden Grammar School, who scooped the customer service award for their T shirt printing business.

Group member Justin Kwok said: "We were going to take orders and deliver them later, but we decided to do the printing at the stall."

The Pipers Corner School group said they had a successful day selling lip gloss.

Lily-May Anson's advice to aspiring businesspeople was: "Be enthusiastic about your product - people want to see you believe in your product. We'd all buy it ourselves and we think it's really good.

"If it's not something you want to go and buy yourself, don't produce it."