YOUNG people with designs on success swapped the classroom for the boardroom to create an award winning marketing campaign.

Pupils at St James’ CE High School in Farnworth certainly showed they had head for business in the Coca-Cola European Partners’s Real Business Challenge (CCEP) to become the North West regional champions.

The young entrepreneurs pitted themselves against other business minds of the future to design and raise awareness of the Special Olympics GN National Games.

Teams made up of school children aged 13 to 15 went to the Museum of Science and Industry to take part in a series of practical challenges.

These centred on developing a campaign to support Special Olympics GB, helping to raise awareness for the charity and its national games, being held this summer in Sheffield.

CCEP volunteers were on hand to mentor the teams, giving students encouragement and professional advice before presenting their ideas to a panel of judges from the worlds of business, charity and education.

The team from St James CE High School impressed judges with their business acumen and were awarded £1,000 for their school, individual vouchers and the possibility of becoming national champions on March 14.

From the 11 regional winning schools, the overall champions will be announced on March 14 following a dedicated judging day.

As part of their prize they will be invited to an employability workshop at CCEP’s Head Office in Uxbridge, to further develop skills gained during the competition.

Now in its thirteenth year, The Real Business Challenge is designed to inspire and educate young people, helping them gain the skills they need to have a competitive edge in the job market. The number of schools entering the competition has increased year on year, with this year’s competition reaching over 100,000 students and more than half a million to date.

Emma Walsh, teacher at St James’ Church of England High School said: “They are an amazing group of pupils who have achieved a fantastic amount in a short space of time. I am fantastically proud of them.”

Gina Solimeno, ?Education Programme Manager at Coca-Cola European Partners, said: “Here at CCEP, we’re committed to supporting the education and development of young talent. We always look forward to seeing the skill and creativity on show from the students during the competition and were very impressed by St James’ Church of England High School’s well designed and thought-provoking campaign to support Special Olympics GB.

“We understand the importance of learning through experience, and it is our aim that the range of hands-on activities students undertake throughout the challenges will help educate, inspire and motivate them, as well as give them valuable insights into the world of work.”

Karen Wallin, CEO for Special Olympics Great Britain, added: In less than 200 days, around 2,600 Special Olympics GB athletes with learning disabilities will be in Sheffield to take part in our National Games across 20 different sports.

“It will be a celebration of sport, human spirit and personal best achievement and we can’t wait to see the projects which will be produced by the young people who participate in this brilliant initiative from Coca-Cola European Partners.

“To have this platform and ability to communicate Special Olympics GB’s movement and message to young people in schools across the UK through The Real Business Challenge is always an exciting prospect for our whole organisation. We are always inspired by the campaigns we see and it is genuinely exciting to see what the schools create during this year’s challenge."