A GROUP of young entrepreneurs is blazing a trail for future generations of business people.

The team, from The King's School, Worcester, have won an award for having the best run company in the West Midlands!

They won the award as part of the Young Enterprise Scheme, which teaches school pupils about commerce through running a business of their own, including raising capital, making a product and then marketing and selling it.

The company, TellTales, won the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area final in May, and then went on to win two awards at the West Midlands regional final, in Wolverhampton.

As well as the Corporate Governance Award for best-run company, the youngsters also scooped the award for Most Innovative Product for their CD containing children's stories.

The team, who are all 16 or 17 years old and in the lower sixth form (pictured above), enlisted the help of children to come up with story ideas.

They then wrote the stories, narrated them themselves and even designed and printed a colour activity booklet to go with the CD.

"We've had an absolutely fantastic year, winning prizes as we have gone along," said Natalie Wofford, company secretary.

"But most importantly we've worked well as a team and produced a product that we are proud to call our own."

During competitions, Young Enterprise companies are judged on three criteria.

Each team has to submit a company report, detailing the firm's financial activities, results, aims and objectives, and the team also has to impress judges with a "trade stand", showing off their products and promotional materials.

The highlight is the eight-minute presentation made by each company, which can involve humour, sound effects and props.

The scheme is supported by more than 150 companies and individuals in the two counties, including Worcester Heat Systems, Cosworth Technology and Royal Worcester Porcelain.