A TEAM of girls have shown they really mean business by completing their first challenge for the Future Business Magnates competition ten days ahead of schedule.

The team, from Durham High School for Girls, was the first to complete their task, more than a week ahead of the deadline.

The competition, launched in September by Sir Bobby Robson, sees 11 schools from across Durham compete in a series of challenges over the next nine months to find the business magnates of the future.

Devised by the Durham District Partnership and backed by The Northern Echo, Yorkshire Bank and Lafarge, pupils will be teamed up with mentors from the business community to meet a series of monthly challenges, leading up to the announcement of the overall winner at an awards dinner in June at the Ramside Hall Hotel.

Alan Whelpdale, head of Key Stage Three at the school, said: "Half-term coming just before the deadline for the first challenge posed a real problem for us, because we didn't return to school until the day before.

"I knew the girls were determined to submit their work in advance, so they must have worked their socks off to get everything done."

Andy Watson, manager at B&Q and the school's business partner, added: "I'm really chuffed to bits that we were the first to submit our report.

"I think this demonstrates just how seriously the girls are treating the competition and I know they've had great fun researching it. We're looking at the second challenge now that everyone's back to school."

Each of the schools managed to meet the deadline for the first task, entitled "What do I need to make it in business?".

Ron Batty, chairman of the Local Strategic Partnership, said: "I'd say that one thing you need to make it in business is to have a competitive edge, and Durham High really set the pace

"We're now looking forward to getting the league table set up with the results of the first one."

At Fyndoune Community College, year eight pupils worked extra time to complete their project before half-term and held regular meetings with their business partner, the Esh Group.

Lynda Dixon, the college's careers co-ordinator, said: "It is quite a challenge to research and put together a 2,000-word submission when you are only 12 years old.

"But the students have really taken on board all the help and advice they've had from the Esh Group and they have researched the skills and qualities it takes to be successful in business.

"So, so far so good. We've met our first challenge deadline and are raring to get on with the second challenge as soon as half-term's out of the way."

David Halfacre, managing director of Dunelm Property Services, part of the Esh Group, said: "They asked lots of relevant questions and gave good answers to mine.

"I think they'll get a lot out of this competition and it will help them really get to grips with what life in business is all about."

Winners of the first challenge, being judged by Margaret Fay of OneNorthEast, will be announced in about three weeks.

* Follow the progress of Future Business Magnates online at www.businessecho. co.uk.