STUDENT entrepreneurs on a mission to help keep cyclists safe impressed judges in an annual business competition for schools.
Team Illumination from Trinity Academy, in Thorne, came up with the Bike-orb cycle light, which reflects a coloured 'no entry' zone of LED light onto the road around a bike to protect riders from passing vehicles.
Their idea and presentation took the runners-up prize at the annual Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF) Business Game, a challenge set over a week in which teams have to establish a business, develop a product or service having done market research then present to a panel of judges on finals day.
Three Year 9 teams from each of the four ESF schools took part - Emmanuel College, Gateshead, Bede Academy, from Northumberland, Trinity Academy and The King's Academy, in Middlesbrough, which hosted the final.
The businesses had to demonstrate commercial awareness by working out finances, develop ideas for a website and other marketing, consider sales and distribution, and show corporate social responsibility by choosing a charity to receive a share of profits.
Team Illumination said its chosen charity was Bluebell Wood Hospice.
The winners of the competition were from Bede Academy, whose shopping device Pro-Scan logs the expiry date of purchased food then sends text alerts to warn of produce nearing its use-by date, along with recipe ideas for how to use it.
The other teams from Trinity Academy were Flint Fusion with their Revolution Shopper product and eVision's educational application, a subscription based app to help students organise their homework schedule with video tutorials and prizes for hitting targets.
Adam Cooper, head of business, IT and economics at The King's Academy, who organised the final, said: "I have been thoroughly impressed by the creativity, thought and preparation shown by all the businesses."
John Inglis-Jones, executive officer at Anglican International Development, who was accompanied by fellow judges Debbie Schofield, from ESF, and Ruth Watson, from Middlesbrough Football Club's Enterprise Academy, added: "I know from many years working in corporate finance that it isn't easy to come up with a concept, work out the finances and get an idea under way.
"Everybody did extremely well and we were particularly impressed with Team Illumination from Trinity Academy."