A Southland Girls' High School business which captured the region's well-known scents in liquid soap form has beaten some tough competition to take out the Southland Young Enterprise Company of the Year award.

The group, Smell of Southland, received their title at last night's regional awards and will compete for the national title in Wellington on December 4.

More than 50 of Southland's budding entrepreneurs were joined by leading Southland businesspeople at the awards night.

Young Enterprise Southland co-ordinator Joanne O'Connor said it had been an amazing year.

"Every year I keep saying the bar is rising from year to year, and this year is no exception," she said.

"It has been very competitive amongst the teams and I know the judges have had a difficult time selecting some of the winners."

Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Richard Hay said Southland's young entrepreneurial talent was up there with the country's best.

Twenty-six teams from James Hargest College, Aparima College, Aurora College, Mt Aspiring College, Verdon College, Southland Girls' and Southland Boys' High School took part in the scheme this year.

Last night's event began with presentations from the groups reflecting on their year, and was attended by regional and national Young Enterprise representatives.

Also presented at last night's event was the Rockshop Album of the Year Award, a national award won by Mt Aspiring College business Lost and Found Sounds.

The students were part of the Enterprising Music division of the scheme where they formed a record label and launched an album of original music. The division is run with the Play It Strange Trust, which is headed by Split Enz' Mike Chunn, and albums were judged by music industry experts.

Chunn was at the event to hand over the award.

Lost and Found Sounds also won the Best Annual Report award, and member Samantha Reid was named Southland Young Enterpriser of the Year.

Aparima College's DanceFitR, which ran dance fitness classes, also picked up a national award, one of only 14 presented throughout the country.

However, they will not find out which National Excellence Award they have won until the national awards in Wellington.

Other awards presented last night were:
Best Business Plan: Happy Muscles, Mt Aspiring College; Company Excellence Award: Volume II, Mt Aspiring College; Most Innovative Product Design: Chasing Tales, James Hargest College; Excellence in Communication: Volume II, Mt Aspiring College; Best Stand at Trade Fair: Chasing Tales, James Hargest College; Highest Exam Mark: Sophia Hewlett-Miller, James Hargest College.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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