Young Enterprise : Beads By BoysBeads By Boys : 'Best Report' and 'Best Company'Campbell’s “Beads by Boys” Young Enterprise company has worked tirelessly over the past months to ensure that the demand for the firm’s excellent quality hand-made jewellery was met. The New Year brought many new opportunities to the company. In February the enterprising pupils worked late into the night to design a stand for the Abbey Centre Trade Fair. At the event, “Beads by Boys” enjoyed a particularly high sales turnover; and equipped many shoppers with Valentine’s Day gifts. The company was awarded the “Best Stand Award,” beating over thirty competitor companies; this more than justified the previous night’s late working! As part of the business growth plan the “Beads by Boys” range of products was launched at the upmarket shop “An Angel at my Table” on Belfast’s Lisburn Road. The highly motivated group also managed to produce a ten-page report during the half-term holidays, some members even spent one day of the break in school working on the document. After the half-term vacation five members of the company attended a day at Belfast’s Holiday Inn were they made a presentation to three highly experienced businessmen. Just next day the team attended another trade fair at Castle Court Shopping Centre; over a gruelling twelve hours shift the boys manned a stall and kitted out many for Mother’s Day. The entire company attended a graduation ceremony in March at the Europa Hotel hosted by UTV’s Julian Simmons, entertainment was provided by local celebrity May McFetridge. Carol Spencer, Founder & Managing Director of the award winning business, “Style Directions”, also gave sound business advice to the young entrepreneurs. The day ended with a presentation of regional prizes. “Beads by Boys” won the “Best Report” prize and also the overall “Best Company Prize” in the Belfast and Castlereagh region. This is a fantastic achievement, beating off local rival schools Methody, RBAI and Ashfield Girls’ to name but a few. A Campbell Young Enterprise company has not won this prize for over ten years.Furthermore, the company were runners-up at the Northern Ireland Finals. “Beads by Boys” has been created as part of the Young Enterprise programme run through the lower sixth enrichment scheme, supervised by Miss Sparkes, whose dedication and advice has been fundamental to the success of the business. All members of the enterprise have benefited greatly from the programme, learning many new skills and gaining a greater understanding of how business really works. 
Miss Sparkes and 'Beads By Boys' are pictured.
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