The achievements of young entrepreneurs from across Oxfordshire have been recognised at an awards ceremony.

About 700 students from 34 schools and colleges were involved in setting up and running their own businesses as part of a county-wide Young Enterprise awards, supported by the Oxford Mail.

The contest was reduced to eight businesses in the final, held at the Culham Science Centre, near Abingdon, on Wednesday.

As reported in the Oxford Mail yesterday, the Grant Thornton Shield for Best Company was won by MAYEC-21, a business set up and run by pupils aged 16 and 17 from Matthew Arnold School in Cumnor Hill, Oxford. It sells cacti in fancy pots.

MAYEC-21 now pro- gresses to the regional final later this year.

Other award winners at the ceremony were:

set4success Best Website Award: Cookinc, Marlborough School, Woodstock

The Blackwell's Cup for Best Display Stand: Bagalicious, School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon.

AC Nielsen Cup for Best Use of Marketing and Market Research: Fenix, Didcot Sixth Form.

UKAEA Cup for the Best Finance Report: Yin Fa Girl, St Mary's, Wantage.

WH Smith Cup for the Best Company Report: Flamingo, Oxford High School.

Lloyds TSB Private Banking Shield for Best Presentation: Bagalicious, School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon.

Institute of Directors Award for Manufacturing: Tedco, St Edward's School, Oxford.

Best Examination Award: Oliver St John, St Edward's School.

Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators award: Flamingo, Oxford High School, Oxford.

Marsh International Shield Award for the Best Team Programme Company: Bright Sparks, North Oxfordshire College, Banbury.