A TEAM of young business brains is setting the early pace in the race to win a competition to find the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The results of the first round of the Future Business Magnates competition have just been released, and see Durham School soar straight to the top of the table.

The team scored 111 points in the first of the six rounds of the competition, with a challenge called What Do I Need To Make It In Business?

Durham School's storming performance in the first round of the nine-month competition, backed by The Northern Echo, gives them a clear six-point lead over its nearest challenger Durham Johnston School.

But the race for second place is neck-and-neck, with Framwellgate School in third with 102 points, just a single point ahead of defending champion, Fyndoune College.

Dave Turnbull, chairman of the organisers, Durham District Partnership, said: "It is really good that the new teams have grasped what the competition is all about at such an early stage.

"It also shows the commitment that both the school and business are willing to put into the project.

"I'm sure that last year's big success, Fyndoune College, plus the likes of St Leonard's School, will not be resting on their laurels.

"All of the teams will be looking to make their mark in this year's competition."

Eight teams, made up of between eight and ten year eight students, are vying for the prestigious title.

Judges award points for research, teamwork, creativity and originality, time management and planning, as well as for overall quality. And teams can choose to play a double-point joker on one of the challenges.

The overall winners, announced at a glittering awards dinner at the Ramside Hall Hotel, in July, win a top prize of £3,000, plus a trophy for the school and £100 each for the members of the winning team. The runners-up get a team prize of £1,000 plus £50 each.

The competition, now in its second year, is once again sponsored by Lafarge and Yorkshire Bank.

You can follow the progress of the young business teams at www. thenorthernecho.co. uk/business/business magnates, which will be updated after each challenge.