BUSINESS savvy student triumphs in school enterprise competition inspired by BBC’s The Apprentice.

A 17-year-old Yarm School pupil has been crowned this year’s ‘Yarm Apprentice’ following an intense process worthy of Lord Sugar’s BBC One programme.

Maddy Jackson stood victorious, winning this year’s competition, with Abhinav Ramisetty a close runner-up.

This year the 18 hopeful pupils worked together to complete tasks put to them by five different ‘Lords Sugar.’ The tasks included designing a range of Yarm School memorabilia for former pupils, branding and pitching a new shampoo product, creating and filming a craft tutorial for 7–11-year-olds and proposing detailed plans for a whole school community event.

At the end of the process, all 18 pupils convened for one final time to vote for and justify their choice of outstanding apprentices throughout the process.

Miss Jackson said: “Winning Yarm Apprentice was extremely rewarding.

"I was thrilled that the time and energy I had put into the process led to winning, though I equally appreciated that throughout the process.

" I had a great deal of fun and gained valuable new skills."

Dr Huw Williams, Headmaster at Yarm, said: “We know that employers are looking for young people with more than just examination results, and this is one of the many opportunities that students at Yarm have to develop and hone their soft skills, leadership qualities and teamwork. It also gives them a valuable insight into the world of work and business and the pressures of an interview or business pitch situation.”