Green Queens get back on their feet for victory

REJECTION is often one of the hardest lessons business people have to deal with.

How an individual deals with such knock-backs can make or break their career, yet it is often a lesson people struggle with well into their adult lives.

Imagine your business idea had been rejected while you were still at school but, despite this, you HAd picked yourself up and taken a different approach to achieve success?

Yesterday, business and civic leaders heard from a group of pupils from Malet Lambert School, who have done just that and, in spite of their initial rejection, were eventually crowned 2011 winners of the Badgers Sett final.

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The pupils, who are known as the Green Queens, came up with the idea of working with other schools to create a series of giant footprints to encourage people to think about the environment.

To emphasise the message, the "feet" will be constructed from recycled materials and will be popping up around the city, rather like the Larkin Toads.

The pupils said: "We wanted to create a business that made people think about waste and the environment.

"Although we didn't win at first, we picked ourselves up and carried on developing the idea.

"Now we are working with other schools in Hull to create giant 'feet' made from recycled materials, and there will be a competition to choose the winners."

The enterprising pupils created their business idea as part of the city's 2011 Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).

The annual event aims to inspire the next generation of would-be entrepreneurs and equip them with enterprising skills they will require in the future – whatever avenue they decide to pursue.

However, yesterday's event at The Exchange in Wilberforce Court was more about inspiring businesses and other organisations to support the week, by showing them what children can achieve if given the right support and encouragement.

After being inspired by the Green Queens, guests were introduced to the pupils at Victoria Dock Primary School, who were named the most enterprising school in the city after successfully turning less than £8 into more than £700 profit.

Addressing the audience, head teacher Denham Kite said: "Everyone is brilliant at something – I passionately believe that.

"But without your support, how can we possibly know that. These youngsters are literally the future – they could be your future employees or even your bosses.

"I agree there can be too much emphasis on SATs and targets, but in terms of Global Entrepreneurship Week, let's raise our targets and make this the best year yet."

This year, GEW takes place in Hull between Monday November 12 and Friday 16 and will coincide with thousands of similar events taking place across the globe.

Events include Hull Environmental Enterprise Challenge, Hull Ready Celebration and a Post 16 Enterprise Masterclass.

The Mail is again supporting the week and will be working with pupils to create a newspaper, include stories gathered from information at a press conference and adverts designed in conjunction with local companies.

Karl Turner, MP for Hull East, said the week's event played an important part in the city's bid to arm the next generation with much-needed skills.

He said: "Through Global Entrepreneurship Week, we want to actively change the perception of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Hull.

"It is our ambition to make Hull and the Humber region the best place in the world to start a business, and by encouraging enterprise and creativity it will make the city more dynamic."