Over 100 young Lincoln entrepreneurs to descend on city shopping centre

A special trade fair showcasing the talents of almost 120 young Lincoln entrepreneurs will return to Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln this weekend for the 10th year.

The Young Enterprise Trade Fair takes place on Saturday, January 30 from 9am to 5pm outside of Roman and Superdrug on the centre’s lower level.

The county’s sixth form entrepreneurs will also be setting up shop in the city centre, putting their unique range of products on display for Lincoln’s weekend shoppers.

Some of this year’s Young Enterprise businesses include:

• Uni-T – selling a book which about surviving life after school, titled What’s Next?, created by a group of twenty Lincoln Minster students
• #ReSweet – selling a tasty variety of packaged sweets
• Crafted With Love – selling wooden and other craft gifts, such as wooden owls, flowers wreaths, metal signs, heart-shaped decorations and bird signs

Chantelle Henderson, Marketing Coordinator at Waterside Shopping Centre, said: “Setting up in an actual retail environment for a day is key to boosting the confidence of these young small business owners, so we couldn’t be happier to support them on their journey to growing their companies.

“Plus, our shoppers absolutely love browsing all of the unique products on offer during the fair, especially since they often make for great Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day gifts!”

As part of the day, standout young people will be awarded with the title of Best Trade Stand and Best Product, among others.

Judging and selecting winners will be members of the local business community, including Paul Caxton, Site Operations Manager at the Waterside Shopping.

Among the schools confirmed to take part is William Farr C of E Comprehensive School in Welton, Lincoln.

William Farr Year 12 pupil, George Tait, who is also IT Director of ‘Crafted with Love’, said: “I’m looking forward to the Trade Fair at Waterside because it will give all our company members experience in meeting and trading with a wide range of people, while also developing our communication skills.”

Fellow entrepreneur and William Farr Year 12 student, Rosie Butler, co-MD of packaged sweets company ‘#ReSweet’, added: “We have been very successful trading within our school and are really looking forward to the experience of selling to a wider market at the Trade Fair.”

Open to educational institutions participating in the Young Enterprise Company Programme in the Lincoln, Lindsey and Boston areas.

For more information on the programme, email [email protected].