Youngsters from schools in Havering, Brentwood and Redbridge have had a taste of running successful businesses in a bid to raise money for a local hospice.

Romford Recorder: Team Jedi: Matthew Foakes; Katie Lowden; Harry Adams; and James Gunn with some of the products they will be selling.Team Jedi: Matthew Foakes; Katie Lowden; Harry Adams; and James Gunn with some of the products they will be selling. (Image: Archant)

The 18 teams of pupils, aged 14 to 18, have joined Saint Francis Hospice’s Match business challenge, run by Barry Hearn, his company Matchroom Sport and Barclays.

Romford Recorder: Team Apollo: Josie Lane; Christie Stimson; Madeleine Squibb; and Chelsey Johnson with some of their Pick me up basketsTeam Apollo: Josie Lane; Christie Stimson; Madeleine Squibb; and Chelsey Johnson with some of their Pick me up baskets (Image: Archant)

Each team was given a start-up fund of £250 by Matchroom Sport to put towards setting up and running a business venture, with the goal of generating as much profit as possible to go to the hospice.

Romford Recorder: Team Karate Kid Car Wash with their mentors from Barclays Bank. Craig Miles, James Buckmaster, Matthew Lawrence (Barclays), Michael Blanks (Barclays), Jack Skinner and Callum Eke.Team Karate Kid Car Wash with their mentors from Barclays Bank. Craig Miles, James Buckmaster, Matthew Lawrence (Barclays), Michael Blanks (Barclays), Jack Skinner and Callum Eke. (Image: Archant)

Mr Hearn said: “The challenge is back on for young people who want to be the entrepreneurial leaders of their age.

“I’m looking forward to monitoring their progress over the next six months.”

Team Karate Kid Car Wash’s CEO, Jack Skinner, of Emerson Park Academy, Hornchurch, said: “We’ve already made some money after washing cars at our school including the school’s minibus.

“Fortunately we had a test run during which our power washer broke and the hose sprung a leak!

“We will be working at Saint Francis Hospice on the day of their Christmas Market on Saturday, November 23, and also offering a door-to-door service in Gidea Park on Saturdays before then – provided it’s not raining!”

Wise-minded

Students in Team Jedi, who describe themselves as a “group of calm, wise-minded individuals”, plan to sell USB memory sticks built into wristbands, or in the style of credit cards, all branded with the school and hospice’s names.

Team Apollo plans to produce “pick me up baskets”, an idea they came up with after one of the girl’s family members was cared for by the hospice.

They will sell the baskets, complete with a teddy bear with a built-in voice recorder, so that the person giving the basket as a gift can record their special message and have that played by the bear.

Team Apollo’s head of finance, Chelsey Johnson, said: “We are aiming to make a 40 per cent profit margin and we will set up a special Facebook page to help sell the baskets.”

Teams will be mentored by Barclays, with members of the winning group getting an iPad3 and work experience at Brentwood-based Matchroom Sport or Saint Francis Hospice.