Businesses from around Torfaen are gearing up to take part in the third Torfaen Enterprise Week by working with schools from across the area.

Pupils from Blaenavon Heritage, Cwmffrwdoer, George Street, Griffithstown, New Inn, Penygarn and Pontnewydd primary schools are designing and developing products to sell in Pontypool Indoor Market between July 8 and 11.

In the lead up to the week long event, the schools are being sponsored and mentored by Alliance Marketing Agency, Everett, Tomlin, Lloyd & Pratt Solicitors, One2One Mortgage Solutions, Pro Steel Engineering, Richard Andrews Architects, RWA Compliance and Watkins & Gunn Solicitors.

In addition, teenagers and young adults from West Mon, St Alban’s, Croesyceiliog and Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw secondary schools who are part of the Inspire to Achieve programme and working towards an enterprise qualification will also be selling products at the market during the enterprise week.

They are being sponsored and supported by Matt Preece, of the Business Doctors, and RWA Compliance.

Gareth Waters, co-director of Alliance Marketing Agency has teamed up with Pontnewydd Primary school, Cwmbran, and has made a number of visits to the school to mentor and support pupils in their business plan preparations and development of their sales and marketing plan.

Gareth has also helped them with their brand and company name as well as the design of their logo.

He said: “It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable experience being able to work with the pupils at Pontnewydd Primary School to help develop a small business in readiness for them to start selling their product during Enterprise Week. All of the children were keen to have their own input from the start, and had great ideas for the name of the business, how the logo should look and what slogans could be used. I look forward to seeing them develop their ideas further and hope they will sell lots of GoGo Bags once they are launched.”

Sam Rowlands, deputy head teacher at the school, said: “We are all very appreciative, impressed and excited by Gareth’s professionalism and his enthusiastic support and advice in this project. The children are inspired and driven and looking forward to building their business.”

Councillor Richard Clark, deputy leader and executive member for economy, skills and regeneration at Torfaen Council, said: “Enterprise Week provides young people with the exciting opportunity to develop a number important skills such as finance, numeracy, problem solving and marketing involved with running a business.

“I am delighted that local businesses have once again offered to support and mentor young, budding entrepreneurs in the borough and I eagerly await seeing the products on sale in Pontypool Indoor Market in July.”

An awards ceremony will take place on July 12 which will celebrate the achievements of the schools and recognise the contributions of the participating businesses.