MORE than 60 pupils from secondary schools across Basingstoke and Deane took part in an annual business challenge.

Youngsters from Bishop Challoner Catholic College, Everest Community Academy, Testbourne Community School, The Hurst Community College, The Costello School and Aldworth School took part in the Skillstree Business Challenge at Queen Mary’s College, in Cliddesden Road.

The one-day event is designed to prepare students for working life and to increase their employability skillset.

This year’s event was sponsored by the Atomic Weapons Establishment who provided a real-life business scenario which saw them design a marketing campaign to improve the profile of AWE to young people.

Pupils worked in teams and then presented their ideas to a set of judges in a Dragons Den-inspired scenario.

Jody Greene, lead teacher of computing at Aldworth School, said: “The Skillstree Business Challenge provided students with real employability and skills testing techniques, which are extremely valuable as this helps them to prepare for the workplace.

“I’m extremely proud of the Aldworth students who took part and won the challenge.

“The quality of work they produced was fantastic and we will look to hold similar events at our school in future.”