A former Wymondham College pupil has benefited from a pilot project which is going to give more entrepreneurial teenagers in parts of Norfolk the opportunity to get into work.

The Enterprise Bursary was launched in March this year by the Norfolk Way charity, set up in 2007 by mid Norfolk MP George Freeman.

It gives non-academic school leavers, aged between 16 and 18, the chance to have a year long work experience placement, financial assistance for travel and personal mentoring.

Currently Dereham Sixth Form College, Northgate High School, in Dereham, and Wymondham College are involved with the bursary.

Three teenagers are already benefiting from the pilot programme, which cost �10,000.

Through the bursary, Jack Wellstead, 16, of Mattishall, near Dereham, - a former Wymondham College pupil - started a work experience placement at Amazon Gym, in Shropham, near Attleborough, alongside a level two instructor course in sports and fitness at Easton College, near Norwich.

Following a meeting on Friday at Wayland Community High School, in Watton, between Mr Freeman and Norfolk headteachers, it was decided that the bursary would be taken up by Wayland Community High, Attleborough High, Old Buckenham High, Neathered High, in Dereham, and Litcham High next year.

Mr Freeman said: 'This was a very positive and exciting meeting and the schools made it clear how valuable the bursary and efforts to build links with local businesses are in promoting opportunities for Norfolk school leavers.

'I think it is really important that we do everything we can to encourage school leavers in Norfolk to understand what is possible through self-employment and how many great local businesses there are.'

Neil McShane, headteacher of Attleborough High, who was at the meeting, added: 'I feel we all agree that for the future of the county to be productive and competitive, business and education will need to work together in a much more integrated way to ensure that our young people are not only employable, but also enterprising, globally competitive, productive and future shaping. This, I believe, is the direction of The Norfolk Way.'

For more information contact Robert Ashton, chairman of the Norfolk Way, by emailing robert@robertashton.co.uk or visit www.thenorfolkway.co.uk