Over the past six weeks, a group of 14 business savvy youngsters at the Isle of Sheppey Academy have been battling it out in an Apprentice-style competition.

Emotions ran high each week as one or more of the students was fired and just four remained in the final.

Reporter Emma Grove was there on Friday to find out who has been named the Isle of Sheppey Academy’s Apprentice 2010.

The four Apprentice finalists have been put through their paces in six tough business challenges. Their last one, which they each tackled independently, was to come up with a way of promoting tourism on Sheppey.

Finalists Leigha Mitchell, Rhys George, Ewan Goddard and Kyle Mullings, were given the use of the empty shop on the corner of Broadway and High Street, Sheerness, and each of them set up a stall.

Ewan’s theme was the Great British holiday and he called his stall Sheppey Travel Academy.

Aviation was the theme for the only girl left in the contest, and she also had a part to her display called Leigha’s Leisure.

Kyle of Sheppey was the name of Kyle’s bid and he created a giant map showing the places of interest on the Island.

Rhys decided to use his photography skills and created a DVD of iconic Sheppey pictures which he gave away free.

The final boardroom meeting took place at the academy’s west site in Jefferson Road, Sheerness, on Friday.

Organiser of the competition Caron Kerr welcomed everybody before playing a video documenting the whole contest from start to finish.

All the finalists were then given a chance to talk about what it meant to have got so far and what they have gained from the experience.

Tension was high in the packed school hall as the finalists were quizzed for the last time by the judges.

Once a question had been fired at each of the nervous-looking students, the judges retired to discuss their difficult decision.

The public had voted for their favourite stall in the final task, and although this wasn’t the final say, it was taken into account by the judges.

As they reappeared from behind the scenes, Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson, playing the part of Apprentice boss Lord Alan Sugar, spoke about what he felt the pupils’ strengths and weaknesses over the last few weeks had been.

The results were then announced in reverse order and each of the four were given such loud cheers it was clear to see how popular the competition had become.

Rhys came in at fourth place, winning £50 and the third prize of £125 went to Ewan.

Leigha was the runner-up and was presented with £250 and then there was a deafening cheer as the audience realised Kyle had taken the title of The Isle of Sheppey Academy’s Apprentice 2010.

He was given £500 and will be taken on a tour of the House of Commons with Mr Henderson. All four were given trophies.

Visibly shocked Kyle said he couldn’t believe he had won.

He said: “It’s a big shock because everyone has worked really hard to get here. I feel over the moon. Over 200 people tried to get in and out of them I’m the one who actually won. I’m never going to forget this – it’s one of the most memorable experiences of my life.”

The contest has clearly had a profound effect on the 13-year-old: he said he plans to invest his winnings so he can make more money.

• The finalists have all been invited onto BRFM in September to talk about the competition.

Winner: Kyle Mullings, 13, Sheerness family unit

Runner-up: Leigha Mitchell, 13, Abbey

Third place: Ewan Goddard, 12, Harty

Fourth place: Rhys George, 18, Sixth Form

Fired

Laine Slater, 14, Brabazon

Grant Friday, 18, Sixth Form

Kelly Hamper, 15, Sheerness

Callum Walder, 13, Shurland

Kane Pearce, 13, Abbey

Ryan Phillips, 13, Abbey

Hannah Basford, 15, Brabazon

Lauren Barnes, 13, Brabazon

Tyler Davies, 15, Sheerness

Shane Moyler, 13, Brabazon

Week one: To organise and coordinate a music and fashion show

Week two: Dress the windows of two high street shops

Week three: Run a cinema for an evening

Week four: Hold a cake stall at Sheerness Market

Week five: Create a promotional advertisement for the Sheerness Times Guardian

Final: Research, design and run a stall to promote tourism on Sheppey

Caron Kerr said: “The final task was amazing.

“Lots of people came in to have a look – it was so busy and we had over 300 votes.

“The public even asked for the map to be kept up in the shop.”

Caron also thanked all the judges for their dedication throughout the competition.

She also thanked Cllr Ken Pugh for putting up the £500 prize and Austin Clays from Queenborough and Rushenden Regeneration for his donation of the other three prizes.

Alan Klee, executive head of the west site, said: “It’s been a great competition where our students learnt a great deal about the real world of business and enterprise.

“We have had tears and laughter when some of our pupils have heard the words 'your fired’.

“I would like to thank the judges for their time and hard work.”