Teenagers from Cumbria are in London today taking on the best in Britain in the UK finals of a business competition.

A team from The Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton, hopes to be crowned the best company at the 2016 final of the Young Enterprise taking place at the Emirates stadium.

Young Enterprise is an annual contest which challenges 15-19 year olds to spend an academic year creating and running their own profit-making businesses.

Five members of Eduvation - the latest company to come out of Nelson Thomlinson School - traveled to the capital early yesterday (WED) to set up their trade stand which will be judged today.

The sixth formers were joined by business adviser Gill Cullen, from Wigton’s Innovia plant, and teacher Steph Walker, who is the school’s head of business and economics.

The remaining eight members of the team, accompanied by assistant headteacher Mike Beechey, left Carlisle on an early-morning train today (THURS) to arrive in time for the formal presentations, judging and tonight’s ceremony.

Eduvation - which has developed a GCSE economics revision guide and smart phone app - hopes to win the title of Champion Company.

Mrs Walker said: “They’ve been busy since winning the regional final in Gateshead, doing things like practising possible questions the judges may ask, and going over their presentation.

“They’re really very excited about the trip. Some have never really left Cumbria before so this is a big thing for them on a few levels.

“We’re also hoping to take in a visit to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster on Friday thanks to an invitation from local MP Rory Stewart.” The Wigton secondary school will not be the only corner of Cumbria represented at tonight’s event.

Nelson Thomlinson's team will be joined by James Bell, who is in year 12 at William Howard School in Brampton.

He could be named winner of the “journey award” which is given to an individual in recognition of the positive impact the Young Enterprise competition has had on them.

2016 marks the third year running that The Nelson Thomlinson School has had a Young Enterprise company reach the national final of the popular competition.

Last year Cumbria Unwrapped competed in the national final and 12 months earlier it was the turn of Digi-Pi, which was named runner-up in 2014.

Teenager Amy Reynard is managing director of Eduvation and helps lead team mates Stefan Clarke, Jay Scott, Ayesha Wise, Tom Shaw, Emily Davison, Abbie Sleightholme, John Purdham, Katie Scattergood, Ryan Baxter, Tobias Barthelmes, Isaac Thompson and Oliver Latimer.