Local businesses have been keen to show their support for the next generation of entrepreneurs by sponsoring the Newport and Monmouthshire regional final for Young Enterprise Wales’ flagship competitions taking place on Thursday, April 27, at the Newport City campus of the University of South Wales.

Students from six schools from across the region have over the past 12 months formed their own registered companies to sell and provide their own products and services under the guidance of an assigned Young Enterprise business adviser and their teachers.

The finalists for both the Company Programme and Team Programme competitions will be submitting their company reports, designing and exhibiting a trade stand, making a presentation to the judges and other guests at the final as well as participating in a Q&A session before the winners are announced.

There are eight categories in total which are being sponsored by local businesses.

Newport-based Ellis, Lloyd Jones Chartered Accountants is the overall award sponsor, with Centurion VAT, Dragons of Newport Networking, STOCK IT, Luminous Media, South Wales Chamber of Commerce and Newport Uskmouth Rotary Club sponsoring some of the categories.

The board of Young Enterprise in Newport & Gwent are keen to invite other companies to get involved and help this year’s final be one of the most successful yet.

Kara Williams, director of Ellis Lloyd Jones Chartered Accountants, sponsored last year’s final and wanted to do the same again in 2017.

She said: “We were so impressed with the quality of the entrants last year, we were quick to accept the invite to lend our support again. The ideas, innovation, professional approach demonstrated by all the participants was quite inspiring and showcases the talent of the next generation of the regions entrepreneurs.