AN entrepreneurial primary school pupil from Wrexham has won a national competition for her efforts.

Jessica Jones, 11, was awarded the Best Logo for her juice business, JJ Juice, in the Fiver from Home competition, run by Young Enterprise and funded in Wales by Principality Building Society.

Running from June to September, the scheme saw over 7,500 pupils from across Wales take part. The initiative also included a competition element, which saw Jessica become one of three final winners.

Jessica was awarded the prize after creating a logo that stood out and made her healthy juice drinks business easily recognisable.

Judges were looking for a simple logo that demonstrated what the business was while showing some creativity.

The initiative asked students aged 5-11 years to create, research and plan a business with just £5.

As the sponsor of Fiver from Home in Wales for the next three years, Principality provided funding allowing Young Enterprise to bring the challenge to Wales on a larger scale and for the first time in the Welsh language.

Sarah Morris, Jessica’s teacher at Ysgol Sant Dunawd, said: “The Fiver Challenge is a great opportunity for young children to gain an insight into planning and running their own businesses.

“They learn so many skills during the project such as working as a team, leadership skills and understanding profit and loss.

“This year our pupils were thrilled when I told them that they would still be able to take part in the 'Fiver Challenge from Home'. Even though they couldn't actually sell their products in the way that they usually do, they still enjoyed designing their businesses and logos, and creating their sales pitches.

“We are extremely proud of Jessica for working so hard whilst she was at home and for winning the Logo competition.”

Created in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Fiver from Home this year replaced the Fiver Challenge which usually runs in the classroom.

The new initiative enabled young people to develop their creativity, commercial awareness and money management skills while at home during lockdown and throughout the summer holidays.

Each winner received an iPad and WRU shirt donated by Principality Building Society.

Julie-Ann Haines, CEO at Principality Building Society, said: “As a mutual society, we are passionate about helping young people to build their life skills, which includes supporting hard working schools with financial education and careers-based activities. We were blown away by the entries from across Wales this year, it demonstrated the desire from young people to challenge themselves and engage in entrepreneurship from home.”

Over the past 18 months, Wales’ largest building society has been working with partners such as Young Money and Young Enterprise to reach over 21,000 students with financial education and careers-based activities. The challenge is set to continue next year.

Russell Winnard, Director of Programmes and Services at Young Enterprise, said: “The achievements of young people through the Fiver Challenge always amazes me, but to do so with the significant barriers faced due to COVID is resilience, innovation and creativity in action.

“Due to the fantastic support of Principality Building Society more primary aged young people in Wales participated in the Fiver Challenge than ever before, developing crucial skills to help them learn to earn and manage their money.”