TURNING up in smart dress didn't do a Gwent school's all-conquering young business people any harm in a contest designed to test their commercial acumen.

Teams from Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School swept the board at the University of Wales College, Newport's Business Challenge 2002.

The school entered three teams - A,B and C - and teacher Val Vaughan was speechless when the last two were announced as taking second and third places.

"We thought our A team hadn't won anything," she said. "I turned to one of the girls on the team and told her I didn't believe it. Then it was announced that the A team had won first prize. There was a silence that must have lasted just a few seconds but it seemed like an eternity.

"We were absolutely thrilled." The school won first prize in the competition in the last two years but this time their success was extraordinary.

Much of it is down to the inspirational Ms Vaughan herself. All the team members are taking their B. Tech national diploma in Business and Finance - the equivalent of three A-levels in one - which involves presentations by each student to their colleagues or to Ms Vaughan. This has undoubtedly added to their confidence in displaying business skills in public competition.

"They are assessed for their course work and they have to get it right," Ms Vaughan said. "They also have to seek and handle information and all this helped in the competition." There is a tradition of success in demonstrating business expertise at the school. In 1998 a team reached the national final of the Argos competition.

"They are doing a course which is self-contained," said Ms Vaughan. "If you do A-levels you normally study three subjects but in this course everything is included - business studies, economics, business statistics, IT, human resource management, the whole spectrum. Many go on to study either business or law."

Two of several former pupils sprang to mind - Quentin Stollery, who did a masters degree in intellectual property and is now teaching in Japan; and Sian Lloyd, who trained to be an accountant and is now a policewoman.

So why do youngsters choose business studies? "We do the subject in years 10 and 11 and there I think they see it as something different," Ms Vaughan said. "They also know there is a lot of IT involved and the use of computers is a big attraction. We do get a fair number of students taking it in the sixth-form."

The 13 Croesyceiliog students formed themselves into the three teams. The judges were impressed when all the questions they wanted to ask were covered by the team in their presentations. They had even looked at sites for the 'relocation' of their business. Oh - and they turned up in neat business dress to look the part as well.

The UWCN Challenge links schools, colleges, local businesses and higher education. Forty-five students spent the previous few months practising their communication and team-working skills by solving real business problems.

The other eight teams were from Coleg Gwent, Pontypool and Caldicot Comprehensive. They and Croesyceiliog all produced reports detailing solutions to the business problems of a fictional company called Chillez Clothing.

The details of the business challenge were obtained from UWCN's website at www.newport.ac.uk/businesschallenge, which provided links to relevant sources of information.

The teams presented their findings and recommendations to a company board of directors and to university college tutors at UWCN's Allt-Yr-Yn campus. The students were advised to expect a number of surprises on the day due to 'changes' in the business environment. Croesyceiliog's Business Consultants' team was the winner and received a computer for the school from the college.

Local businesses who took part were Electronic Business Communications, Hodsons Parsons James and Vaux solictors, Mountway, and Penn Pharmaceuticals. Students who have accepted the challenge in previous years say they gained a great deal of personal satisfaction from completing the project, said Lyndon Murphy, school of business and management lecturer. Tasks carried out as part of the competition can be used as evidence for Key Skills, AVCE and BTEC qualifications, and will enhance any students UCAS personal statement and record of achievement.

Local businesses have taken part in the Business Challenge by judging the presentations and supplying live problems. They are: Electronic Business Communications (EBC); Hodson Parsons James and Vaux Solicitors; Mountway Ltd; and Penn Pharmaceuticals.

Winners will receive the Challenge Shield and individual prizes. All participants will receive a certificate of achievement and bursaries of 500 will be awarded to the top ten students wishing to study at UWCN.

*PICTURED: Members of the Croesyceiliog team (seated from left) Claire Davies, Vicki Yates, Victoria Hillier, and David Gardner (and standing from left) Ryan Fahey, Michael Mayo, Ben Robertson, Frazer Butcher and Matthew Sargeant.