BUDDING entrepreneurs from across North and East Yorkshire will take over the city’s Designer Outlet on Saturday for an Apprentice-style competition.

Ten groups of teenagers from schools and colleges who have set up their own businesses will showcase and sell their products at the McArthurGlen shopping complex near Fulford from 10am until 4pm.

In addition, professional businessmen and entrepreneurs will play mystery shoppers, mingling among the real shoppers, to judge their business talent.

The groups will be competing against each other in a bid to be crowned the Best Sales Team, the Best Trade Stand and the Best Product/Service.

The outlet’s retail manager, David Aunins, will step into Alan Sugar’s shoes to hand out prizes to the successful challengers.

The Young Enterprise Company Programme, organised by UK-based charity Young Enterprise, has involved more than 70 secondary schools and colleges, challenging students aged between 15 and 19 to create their own product and run a business around it, taking on roles such as managing director, secretary and chairman.

The outlet’s general manager, Colin Wilding, said he was very pleased to be hosting the Young Enterprise trade fair for the region, saying it was an “innovative and inspiring” programme for young people.

He said: “With great designer fashion brands and 3.5 million shoppers a year, we are experts in the retail world, making us perfectly placed to provide these budding business minds with an opportunity to experience the retail world.”

One of the businesses competing on Saturday is Pearl, which was set up by a group of lower sixth-form students from King James’s School in Knaresborough, and makes handmade earrings and bracelets.

Other schools taking part include Pocklington School’s Pocksye, with personalised wristbands, and Ripon Grammar School’s Gluttons For Buttons, jewellery made from Scrabble tiles and buttons.