TALENTED young business people from Rainham Mark Grammar School have scooped their second Young Enterprise accolade.

Trinity Enterprises, winner of the recent Medway Young Enterprise final, also won the prestigious countywide award.

It was a night of triple triumph for the teenagers who won two other awards - for best use of IT (sponsored by Kent Reliance Building Society) and best presentation.

The Rainham Mark youngsters were delighted as outgoing Deputy Mayor of Medway Cllr Tony Goulden carried out his last official act by presenting them with the winners' shield in Gillingham Football Club's banqueting suite at Priestfield Stadium.

Andrew Pryde, Trinity's 17-year old managing director, said: "We were thinking - oh well, we've done our best. But to come here and win three prizes is amazing."

Trinity, which made good profits from selling a wide range of products and services, was Rainham Mark's third company in a row to win the local final, but the first to win county laurels. It now goes on to contest the regional final in Horsham, Sussex, on June 16.

Chris Martin, the firm's business adviser and a systems engineer with Delphi Diesel Systems, Gillingham, has worked with the school for the past two successful years.

He said: "I love being an adviser and it's great working with the kids and seeing them progress in their business."

Link teacher Mary Purcell, head of economics and business studies, has worked with the three winning companies and is about to leave to have a baby.

She put the school's ongoing success down to a supportive atmosphere in the school and the talent and originality of the students.

"I am delighted with what the young people have achieved and I hope the school's success will continue with a new link teacher," she said.

Alyson Howard, chairman of Kent Institute of Directors, and chairman of the judges, praised all seven finalists, but reminded them to take more care over their written presentations.

But she paid warm tribute to their oral presentations.

She said: "It is a really significant skill to be able to stand up and speak to an audience such as this, and you all did incredibly well."

Tim Brinton, the former broadcaster and Gravesham MP, and an expert on public speaking, was guest speaker.

Describing himself as the "elderly warm-up man," he underlined the importance of pace, voice projection, pause and change in voice tone to keep the audience attentive.