BUSINESS-SAVVY youngsters wowed tycoon Richard Branson with their vision and drive in launching a new business.

A team of enterprising pupils from Leigh Beck Junior School, on Canvey, were named best group at the Fiver Challenge awards ceremony, at the Ham Yard Hotel, in London.

The youngsters made a profit of £284 after taking part in the challenge, which saw them given £5 to set up a small business.

Team Our Style persuaded the owner of Love Ur Curves, on Canvey, to help supply them with products, such as pens, sunglasses and hair grips which they could bling up and sell for a profit.

They sold all 50 of their pens in two days.

Teacher Carla Woodward said: “Not only has the children’s mental arithmetic improved since taking part in the challenge, but they have developed in other areas as well.

“In trying to attract customers to the stall and keep them there, their literacy improved and they learnt how to be persuasive.

“I have never seen a pen described in so many different ways and their confidence has also grown.”

James Gillian, nine, said: “We all had different ideas, but eventually decided on accessories.

“I learnt how to earn a lot of money and when I’m older I think it would be better to start my own business instead of working for someone else.”

Sir Richard Branson and Lord Young of Graffham, enterprise adviser to the Prime Minister, presented the awards.

Sir Richard said: “The Fiver Challenge is a great way to introduce young people to the idea of enterprise and enable them to develop key skills like team work, communication and creativity. They also get to see what can be achieved from such a small sum of money and how that small sum can quickly grow.

“We’ve seen some really innovative ideas and I’m hugely impressed with what the pupils have achieved.”