YOUNG entrepreneurs from across the county gathered for a special event to test their fledgling business skills.

Scores of teenagers set up shop at the Templars Square Shopping Centre in Cowley, Oxford, to sell their products as part of the Young Enterprise scheme on Saturday.

A team from the new Oxford Spires Academy in East Oxford published a magazine focusing on school life and generated revenue by selling advertising space to local businesses.

Director Carrieanne Appleby said: “The first issue has been about how we have transformed from Oxford School to the Spires Academy and in the next one we will be focusing on fashion and the music industry.

“We have taken several orders for advertising and there has been a lot of feedback and contacts to follow up which have been very useful.”

The Oxford Inspires team were also supplementing their turnover by selling hoodies, wristbands and memory sticks promoting the magazine.

Also publishing a magazine were the Linx team from Bloxham School, which will send out a 48-page publication to parents.

The magazine has already raised £2,500 in advertising and the team is looking to double that figure.

But most of the attention at their stall was on the cufflinks and jewellery they had made from Scrabble pieces.

Director Matt Cooper, 16, said: “We have made about £70 at the trade fair as well as selling a lot to teachers and parents at school events.”

Meanwhile, the Escape stand from Burford School was trading on a green theme by selling jewellery and key rings made from bottle tops.

And two other firms were cleaning up by selling soaps.

Marlborough Advanced Distribution (MAD) from Marlborough School, Woodstock, were selling Fairtrade products they sourced from the Visionary Soap Company.

Director Hilary Sayer, 16, said: “The company has been really friendly towards us and we have had a really good day, making more than £100 which means we are well into profit.”

Some of the youngest participants were the That’s So Fetch company from Our Lady’s School in Abingdon, run by Year 10 pupils aged 14 and 15.

They had manufactured their own soap dishes from resin and supplemented that by sourcing the soaps to go with them.

Sales director Alice Habisreutinger, 14, said: “We have had a really good day and learned a lot from the experience.”

That’s So Fetch were winners of the Best Business Plan award, with Escape picking up the award for Best Trade Stand and MAD Best Customer Service.

Young Enterprise Oxfordshire chairman Gordon Beach said: “All the companies have had a fantastic day and now have a real insight into what it takes to attract customers to their business.”