ENTERPRISING students will have the chance prove whether they have what it takes to run a successful business in a new pilot project.

And Louise Hunt, enterprise co-ordinator for Witton Park High School a specialist school for Business Enterprise and Science, has created an Enterprise Avenue where up to four business can be set up at one time.

Run by students and funded by a separate chamber of commerce type body made solely of pupils Ms Hunt hopes to extend the scheme to other schools throughout East Lancashire if successful.

Ms Hunt, who is joint chair of the Pennine Lancashire Enterprise Learning Partnership, said staff would take a back seat and leave all decisions to students.

In a year’s time they will review Enterprise Avenue with a view to rolling it out.

Enterprise Avenue has been set up in the Enterprise Quad in the Blackburn school and consists of four sheds where students can store goods for their business.

Previously, under mentors students have put together fashion shows to raise money and sold food in compliance with health and safety and food hygiene standards.

It is hoped the new storage areas will help students create bigger and better businesses in the future.

Ms Hunt said: “This is in it preliminary stages and is open to any students in the school. Any individuals or little groups can set up their own business and source funding from the Young Chamber.

“We are yet to finalise the details but the Young Chamber is made up of children from year seven upwards.”

The Young Chamber has taken part in a number of networking events with the Chamber of Commerce to learn how they are organised and their responsibilities.

The Chamber of Commerce has mentored the Young Chamber at Witton Park High School and now they will take responsibility for its own enterprises.

Ms Hunt said: “It is up to the Young Chamber whether they will back a business plan or not and they must then decide whether they would like to take a risk on it.”