Bright Young Things finalists (left to right) Becky Machon, Katie Vidamour, Danielle Reid, James Turner, Helen Young, Autumn Curtis-Summers and Jim Rowe. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0572117)

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS has been hailed a resounding success by its mentors. The Schroders-sponsored entrepreneur contest, similar to TV’s Dragons’ Den, was a hit with the 500-strong audience at St James on Tuesday night.

James Turner and his team took home £5,000 for winning with their youth project business Street Academy. Schroders CEO Julian Winser said the private bank had ‘created a monster’.

‘It worked so well from everybody’s perspective. It’s going to be difficult to repeat the success. We will have to work three times as hard to have the same impact next time, although there will never be a first one again.’