IPSWICH: The next generation of entrepreneurs aiming to make their mark on the region’s business scene have had the chance to show off their skills at a special exhibition at Suffolk New College.

The Entrepreneurial Business Event is an annual event for final year business studies students at the college – and this year youngsters showed off a variety of business ideas from marquee hire to speedway riding courses.

Business studies lecturer Andrew Costello said: “This is a very important event to the students and it does count towards their final marks.

“The course is A-level equivalent. About half of the students will go on to study at university while the other half are likely to use what they have learned here to go out into the world of work.”

The exhibition was visited by business and civic leaders from around Ipswich, including Mayor John Le Grys, as the youngsters showed that there was no lack of entrepreneurial flair in our beacon town.

Mr Costello said: “One of the main things from this exhibition is to show the youngsters how important it is to be confident and to deal well with other people in business.”

Amy Carpenter, 20, from Pinewood, combined her love of speedway with an entrepreneurial spark to come up with the idea for the Speedway Skiddin’ School.

The former British under-15 speedway champion said her idea would be a labour of love – but accepts that it is not yet viable.

She said: “I work in a shop as well and I hope the qualification I earn here will stand me in good stead.

“Eventually I would love to have my own business but it is difficult to get the money for that from banks when you are as young as me. But this has been a great course and it has shown how important hard work is.”

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