UNIVERSITY of Wales College Newport played a pivotal role in the success of the evening for young entrepreneurs.

Professor Ken Overshott, principal of the university, said: "The University of Wales College, Newport, was pleased once more to play host to the Young Enterprise competition.

"As in previous years we have been impressed by the high standard of the entrants and hope that these young entrepreneurs will consider studying at their local university college in the future.

"At UWCN we aim to bring learning to life by developing courses that are relevant to the demands of today's rapidly changing working environment. "The expertise and knowledge students gain during the Young Enterprise competition will prove extremely relevant to their studies in higher education as well as in their future careers.

"The economic mission of higher education institutions in relation to wealth and job creation and the commercial exploitation of knowledge has been highlighted by the National Assembly of Wales Higher Education Review.

"UWCN prides itself on being a community university, committed to the central role we can play in the cultivation and development of enterprise.

"Last year we launched the Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise (ICE) Centre to provide a focus for research and other departmental activities within the university college involving innovation, creativity and enterprise.

"The ICE Centre also provides an advisory service to the community with the aim of encouraging and supporting local enterprise initiatives. UWCN students have enjoyed considerable success in Graduate Enterprise, which was launched during 1989/9.

"Graduate enterprise gives university students the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of running their own company with an insight into how their talents could be used to set up in business themselves.

"It is essential that we encourage students to participate in enterprise activities because at school in higher education and throughout our working lives we need to be more adaptable than ever before, prepared to change career direction and to learn new skills."