STAFF and pupils at Neston High School have been using enterprise activities to bring some of the dry theory parts of a business studies course to life.

At the school, enterprise is all about doing, taking risks, being creative and getting stuck in to a project. So, between September and December last year, sixth form students planned and organised a Christmas party for the senior citizens in the local community.

As a result the school has been shortlisted for a Spirit of Enterprise award in the Educate Awards 2018.

The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is now in its seventh year and is the largest education awards in the North West.

From inspiring teachers, superb support staff to innovative projects across the curriculum, the awards recognises the work of schools and colleges which are delivering outstanding education and helping students achieve their full potential.

Neston pupils held a non-uniform day to raise the funds to buy supplies and obtained sponsorship from local businesses such as Thornton Hall Hotel and Gordale Nurseries.

As well as putting on a lovely party for the guests, the work the students did provided evidence for their business studies assignment. Some students even made the decision to go in to events management as a career from the experience they gained on the project.

Another group of students took part in a Dragons Den style competition organised by Manchester Airport.

Over a period of two months they set up and ran their own small business, after securing a £100 investment from the "dragons". Following some intensive market research, the product was made from inserting a string of lights in to recycled bottles and it also included some appropriate branding. They made lovely table centrepieces and were a great, reasonably priced Christmas gift.

The product proved very popular and the students took advantage of selling opportunities at the airport and at the school Christmas Fair. They also promoted it at Parents Evenings and for visitors to the school reception area.

All the profits raised went to Hope House Hospice and the students believe that the project has helped them enormously with confidence, lateral thinking and ambitions for the future.

So that that all enterprising students are recognised at Neston, the high school recently introduced a new enterprise category to the annual awards evening held every September.

The school said: "This award has been won in the past by a young boy who started his own gardening business. He raised money from a paper round to purchase a trailer for his bicycle and he produced flyers and business cards as part of an ICT project he was doing in lessons.

"We hope that by asking staff from all departments in the school for nominations, that we will not fail to uncover the next Richard Branson, Alan Sugar or Zoe Sugg!"