YOUNG people in Chester- le-Street were ready to hit the market stalls after taking part in a sales bootcamp.

Nevil Tynemouth and Mike Lever of New Results Training delivered the session to a group of 16 year olds at the event organised by Cestria Community Housing.

In a challenge similar to those seen on in TV in The Apprentice, the group created a business and learned essential business skills including planning, marketing and how to handle money effectively before they took to the streets and sold their products on Chester-le-Street market.

Suzanne Jobson, financial inclusion manager for Cestria Community Housing, said: “The purpose of Enterprise Week is to provide young people with a real-life experience of being an entrepreneur. With the north east falling behind in university attendance, it’s important that young people have an understanding of what’s available for them when they leave school if they don’t want to follow the traditional university route.”

“This is the second year that we’ve come to the North-East and it’s the first time we’ve included a sales session. Last year we felt a vital element was missing and with the help and support of Nevil and Mike, the young people now have an understanding of how to communicate with customers effectively to encourage sales.

Nevil Tynemouth, director at New Results Training, added: “We’re delighted to be involved with such a fantastic project .”

Ryan Smith, 16, from Chester- le-Street who will begin to study mechanics at New College Durham in September said: “The session from Nevil and Mike has given me the confidence to go out and sell. They’ve given me information about business that I didn’t know and as I really enjoy photography, I’m now thinking about starting my own business.”

Molly Spowart, 16, from Lumley added: “The sessions were really interesting as we had to work in groups with people we didn’t know and learn how to communicate with them. I’ve learnt how to be much more approachable with customers.”