Students from Tavistock College are celebrating after being crowned South West winners of a major competition to inspire and discover the business leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.   

School teams from across the region travelled to Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol to compete in the of the Coca-Cola Enterprises Real Business Challenge.

Tavistock College emerged victorious, following their campaign to raise awareness and support for Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) and its National Summer Games, being held in August 2013.

The students now progress to the national final in London on March 6, where they will compete against ten other regional finalists from across the UK.

At the regional event, Year 10 students received support from CCE professionals to help develop their business ideas before presenting them back to the Real Business Challenge judging panel.

Teams' scores were based on their enterprise skills, including team-work, leadership, creativity and presentation skills.

College principal Helen Salmon said: 'I am very proud of our students who have won the regional final of this prestigious business challenge. They have shown that they can work as a team, present their ideas and work under pressure.

'All of these skills will help them when they progress onto university and to highly skilled jobs. The college's drive to engage with the business community is starting to pay off.'

Tavistock College teacher Sarah Holt said: 'The regional final was an amazing experience, giving the students an opportunity to collaborate, and experience a genuine business challenge. As a teacher I feel very proud of our students' achievement in reaching the national final of this competition.'

Steve Marks, senior field sales manager at CCE, said: 'The Real Business Challenge allows students to experience the world of business first-hand and to practice skills that will give them a competitive edge in the job market.

'The South West finalists displayed passion, teamwork and skills which will be transferrable to any activities these excellent individuals do in the future.'

Karen Wallin, CEO for Special Olympics GB said: 'To have the ability to communicate Special Olympics GB's services and message to young people in schools across the UK through the Real Business Challenge is an exciting prospect for our whole organisation.

'We have already been inspired by some of the campaigns we've seen and look forward to seeing more from the students throughout the competition.'

The remaining Real Business Challenge South West regional finalists were Wellsway School, Bristol (Runners Up), Kingsmead School, Taunton, Newton Abbot College, Torquay Boys' Grammar School, Bridge Learning Campus, Bristol, The Castle School, Taunton and Katharine Lady Berkeley's School, Gloucestershire.

 The Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) Real Business Challenge is an annual enterprise initiative linked to the national curriculum. 

The scheme is designed to give students aged 14 and 15 genuine business experience, equipping them with some of the skills and attributes needed in a work environment.