A GROUP of budding Evesham entrepreneurs have benefited from the wisdom of a leading Vale company.
The nine talented Prince Henry’s High School pupils, who recently set-up a company selling jams and chutneys called Henry’s Preserves, met with Peter Heming, managing director of Heming Group in Willersey, near Broadway, to receive business advice.
The youngsters had founded Henry’s Preserves as part of the ‘Young Enterprise’ scheme, a charity which empowers young people to harness their business skills, and were recently voted runners-up in its Herefordshire and Worcestershire finals.
The company, which sells a range of ethically sourced caramelised onion chutney and mixed fruit jam, also won the ‘Team Work’ award, after winning the scheme’s qualifying trophy for the best use of IT and scooped the ‘Best Overall Company’ prize at the Young Enterprise South Worcestershire Spring Fair in March.
Mr Heming, who was named ‘Young Enterprise South Worcestershire Business Adviser of the Year’ in 2014, is a firm believer in investing in youth in the workplace.
As well as managing 40 employees, he sponsors and contributes to Worcestershire networking group ‘Apprentices in Business’, in addition to his work with Young Enterprise.
Faith Williamson, managing director of Henry’s Preserves said: “We were really pleased to have progressed far in the Young Enterprise competition and the support and encouragement we’ve received from an experienced businessman like Peter Heming has been invaluable.”
Mr Heming said: “I gain enormous satisfaction from this advisory role. This is a very talented team of youngsters with a bright future.
“I’ve passed on advice about how to run a business, including marketing skills and how to remain focused. For me it’s about giving something back to the local community. I’ve acted as a Young Enterprise advisor to four local schools over the last six years.”
Visit www.henryspreserves.com for more information.
