YOU'RE never too young to be an entrepreneur.

Don't believe us? Then just look at the inspiring example of 12-year-old Victoria Brown.

The Mount School pupil has already won a prestigious North Yorkshire Business and Enterprise Partnership award for designing a new kayaking jacket.

And last night she was one of the stars of the show at the Venturefest event at York racecourse.

Venturefest is all about bringing the finest Yorkshire entrepreneurs together with the investors who can help turn their vision and inspiration into a reality.

The entire four floors of the Knavesmire Stand were buzzing, with more than 100 exhibitors and a host of informal interactive workshops on show.

A team from BBC TV's Dragon's Den were scouting for business ideas and personalities, while rookie entrepreneurs were competing for a £5,000 cash prize.

More than 2,000 people were expected to attend the event - but how marvellous that it was a schoolgirl who took centre stage.

York has a long history of enterprise and innovation. Just look at its trading past, from the Vikings to the Merchant Adventurers.

In more recent years, that same spirit has enabled the city to rise above the decline of traditional manufacturing to achieve a new prosperity through technology, science and finance.

Venturefest is all about promoting and developing the new, exciting industries which will help ensure York's economy continues to thrive in the 21st century. It is about building for the future.

And what better symbol of that could there have been than the fresh face and youthful enthusiasm of a 12-year-old designer?