A GROUP of teenagers are celebrating after their innovative children’s book triumphed at a competition for budding entrepreneurs.

A dozen youngsters from Oxford High School who wrote and illustrated Footsteps Through Oxford took the Best Company title at the county finals of the Young Enterprise Awards.

The sixth form students, all aged 16 and 17, formed their own company, Oxygen, last September and after launching the book earlier this month, sold 148 copies within the first week.

IT director Florence Cahill, 17, said: “We have put a lot of hard work in but it has been worth it because this is such an achievement.

“We have learned so much about working together as a team, so this is a reward for doing that.”

The book is a guide to the attractions of Oxford and is aimed specifically at children, with interactive games and illustrations. The company raised money by selling prints of the initial art work produced by Florence at events such as Artweeks.

They managed to persuade Eynsham-based Information Press to publish the book, which is now on sale at Blackwells and the Ashmolean Museum shop for £7.99.

Oxygen will now go on to compete in the South East regional finals on June 16 and if they win that, will go on to the national final later in the year.

The youngest competitors in the competition were also “ecstatic” after scooping three awards including the Oxford Mail trophy for the best media coverage.

The 25 15-year-olds who make up Cloud 9 from the School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon have had major success with sales of their jewellery and accessories, which are made from sweet wrappers and bottle tops.

Managing director Emily Stevenson said: “We are very proud. It has been a fantastic night. It was great to be able to achieve so much, despite being the youngest in the competition.”

Nine teams battled it out in front of more than 200 business people, teachers and parents at the Said Business School in Oxford.

Gordon Beach, chairman of the Oxfordshire branch of Young Enterprise, said: “I would like to congratulate all the teams for the exceptional standard of work they have produced. I am sure we have seen some of the entrepreneurs of the future.

“Oxygen will be excellent ambassadors for Oxfordshire.”

THE WINNERS

Business Link Award for Best Business Plan: Arc-Tec, North Oxfordshire Academy

The JSP Cup for Manufacturing: ZaZu, Burford School

The Oxford Mail Media Award: Cloud 9, The School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon

XL5 Award for Best Web Site: Cloud 9, The School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon

Ems2 Climate Change Award: ZaZu, Burford School

Best Display Stand:Kapow, Our Lady’s Abingdon

Best Financial Management: Cloud 9, The School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon

Best Presentation: ZaZu, Burford School

Challenge Cup for Marketing and Market Research: Azure, Oxford High School

The Unipart Automotive Cup for the Best Company Report:Azure, Oxford High School

The Oxford Innovation Award: Enigma, Cherwell School, Oxford

The Oxfordshire Shield for Best Company: Oxygen, Oxford High

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