A team of young entrepreneurs from Altrincham Grammar School for Girls has won the North West Regional Final of the 2016 Enterprise Challenge competition, hosted generously by KPMG in Manchester.

‘Team Elevate’ beat stiff competition from teams from Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury, Ladybridge High School in Bolton, The Hathershaw School in Oldham and Levenshulme High School in Manchester with their idea for alleviating loneliness amongst elderly citizens. All finalists had already beaten hundreds of students from other schools in the North West to reach the final.

The competing teams pitched their ideas in a Dragons Den-style event to a prestigious panel of judges including Dean Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester; Ahti Arshad, Director at Brooklyn Charles; Paul Heywood, partner at KPMG; Noor Ali, World Foods Manager at Morrisons; and Lord Lieutenant Warren Smith.

Team Elevate will now progress to the Enterprise Challenge Grand Final in London on 4^th May where they will compete against winning schools from the West Midlands, South East, Yorkshire, London and Glasgow for the chance to become national champions.

The girls from Team Elevate said after winning: “This was an amazing experience which we won´t forget! We really enjoyed the day and were especially inspired by what Helen Tse said – she was a brilliant speaker. We can’t wait to represent the North West region at the Grand Final, and hopefully bring home the title!”

Actor and comedian Abdullah Afzal, who hosted the North West Regional Final, said: “What a fantastic event! All of the teams presented their ideas in a highly professional way and the judges must have had a tough job choosing the winner. I wish Team Elevate the very best of luck for the Grand Final and I hope that they can bring the title back to the North West. Come on you Mancs!”

Helen Tse MBE commented: “It was such a pleasure to be the keynote speaker at the Mosaic Enterprise Challenge North West Regional Final. I feel it was me who was more inspired by what I saw at the event, the calibre of pitches by the students was brilliant. I am positive Team Elevate will do the North West proud at the impending Grand Final.”

The Enterprise Challenge is generously sponsored nationally by Apax Foundation and Qatar Charity UK and supported by Totem Learning. Nael Faragy is the principal regional supporter and the North West Regional Final had local author and restauranteur Helen Tse MBE as guest speaker.

Prizes on the day were donated by Manchester United FC, Alliance Manchester Business School, Bupa, JMW Manchester Solicitors, BPP University, KPMG, Ravat & Ray Dental Care, New Charter, Helen Tse (Sweet Mandarin), Carillion, Human Appeal International, Pound Stretcher, AMS Accountants Group, Amec Foster Wheeler and Penny Appeal.