By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 13:17, Monday, 25 June 2012

A team of budding entrepreneurs from Caldew School who set up a foodbank to raise awareness of poverty have won an award for innovation.

Scranbition, from left, Rebecca Allen, Lauren Coulthard, Sally Metcalfe and Helen Brown

Their company, Scranbition, was chosen to represent Cumbria from more than 300 young people across the county who have been running their own real businesses since September last year.

They scooped the award at the Young Enterprise North West finals at the Concorde Suite in Manchester Airport.

The 16 and 17 year-olds decided their company’s aim would be to reduce hunger and they helped and raise awareness about poverty.

This convinced judges at Carlisle Racecourse in May to choose Scranbition to represent Cumbria at the north west finals.

Thursday night’s event was held underneath the wings of Concorde where Scranbition had to create a trade stand, submit a company report and give a presentation to expert judges from businesses across the north west. Pam Oddy, Young Enterprise area manager for the north west said: “This group of young people had achieved amazing results in a very short time raising more than £10,000 for the foodbank.

“They have worked extremely hard to win this award and get to theregional final and havedemonstrated that the spirit of enterprise is alive and kicking in Carlisle.”

Scranbition competed against other county heat winners from Cheshire, East Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire West.

The North West Company of the Year award was won by Fruity Friends, acompany from Wilmslow High representing Cheshire.

Fruity Friends produced t-shirts with cartoon characters.

They will now go on to compete in the Young Enterprise National Innovation awards on July 1 to 3.

First published at 11:27, Monday, 25 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk