Young entrepreneurs from a school in Richmond have scooped a top award at the annual Young Enterprise national final in London.

Students from St Paul’s school, in Barnes, were crowned the winners for their company, VenturePad, at the HSBC Young Enterprise Company of the Year Awards final, held at the BFI, in July.

The winning team, who had already been awarded best company at the London regional final, went on to win the most astonishing idea award in the European finals, held in Brussels.

Ed Astakhov from VenturePad said: “With the level of commitment each member of the team has put into VenturePad, winning the Final quite simply means everything to us.”

VenturePad, who created waterproof, tear proof, durable notepads and pens, were one of 14 student companies who reached the Young Enterprise Company programme finals.

Jonah from VenturePad said: “ Young Enterprise has tested us in a pleather of ways.

“Not only does it press teams to be innovative, but also to consider their past actions and improve upon them.”

Set up and run over one academic year, the programme provides an opportunity for young adults, aged 15-19, to set up and run a profitable business, which is judged on it’s innovation, sales, marketing, financial performance, social impact and teamwork.

Michael Mercieca, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise, said: “I’d like to congratulate the students from Venturepad for winning HSBC Young Enterprise Company of the Year Award.

“You don’t get this stuff from a text book and we are greatly encouraged by our research which shows that 94% of Company alumni go on to education, employment or training - 7% higher than the national average.”

VenturePad were also awarded the first-ever FedEx Access award, introduced for the 2017 awards by FedEx Express, as part of their support of the Young Enterprise Company Programme.

The award is based on the student company that best demonstrates knowledge of innovation, access to global markets, sustainable development and social and environmental responsibility.

David Binks, president of FedEx Express in Europe, said: “As an alumnus of the programme and a board member of JA Europe, I’m pleased to see this program growing and now engaging over 350,000 students in more than 100 countries worldwide.

“The creation of the FedEx Access Award, at a regional and now a national level, reflects FedEx desire to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.”