AS the jobs market looks ever more gloomy, these enterprising teenagers are showing they have a head for business.

This year 43 teams from 35 schools and colleges are taking part in Oxfordshire Young Enterprise, a contest where youngsters form companies, come up with business ideas and then bring the product to market.

Representatives from 22 different teams from across the county took to Templars Square Shopping Centre, in Cowley, on Saturday to show off their wares.

Lynn Shepherd, chairman of Oxfordshire Young Enterprise, said: “What I have been impressed with is their confidence and enthusiasm, and their approach to the whole thing.”

Young Enterprise area manager Sarah Middleton said the number of schools and colleges taking part had increased this year.

She said: “I think students are now appreciating if they go into a tough job market, they need something extra and have to show some employment skills, so schools are more interested in giving them the opportunity to take part.”

A group of pupils from St Helen and St Katharine School, Abingdon, formed the company Buzzin’, creating ‘bee hotel’ garden homes for bees.

Jenna Chick, 15, from Pangbourne, near Reading, said: “I find business really interesting.

“It’s part of what attracted me to doing Young Enterprise and I have really enjoyed it so far.”

The company has already sold about 130 bee hotels.

Youngsters at Eynsham’s Bartholomew School are behind the Estrella company and have created a range of handmade jewellery.

Carmen Lau, 16, from Eynsham, confessed to being a big fan of hit entrepreneurial BBC show The Apprentice and its teen equivalent, Young Apprentice.

She said: “I love the competitiveness of it. One of my dreams is to own my own business.”

Dexios company, from Abingdon School, has chosen to market and sell on an existing product, the Boing stand for musical instruments or electronic gadgets such as iPads.

Oxford Spires Academy’s company Dimension, is producing photo keyrings for customers on the spot.

Directing manager Husam Mohammed said he was channelling inspiration from BBC hit show Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones.

Husam, 17, from Cowley, said: “I am actually hoping to become an entrepreneur.

“In your life you are either going to be working for a business or running your own, so the fact we are starting from now should help.”

He added: “I want to make as much profit as possible in order to develop new ideas and make more profit.”

The competition runs until March and the winning team will be the one that makes the most money.