A TEAM of young entrepreneurs from an Altrincham school has been getting into the groove, by setting up a business turning old vinyl discs into useful household objects.

The Year 12 students from Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College in Altrincham, who are running a company called Vinyl Mash Ups, were among a group of budding tycoons who showcased their wares at a pre-Christmas pop-up in Stretford Mall.

A total of 40 young people from schools and colleges across Trafford ran nine different stalls during the event.

It was masterminded by the national charity Young Enterprise, which empowers young people to harness their personal and business skills, in partnership with Stretford Mall manager Gareth Wilkins.

Led by its managing director, 17-year-old Matthew Wakeham, Mash Ups went into production in September with an 18-strong workforce.

Matthew, who lives in Stretford, said: “We had the idea of using old vinyl albums to make place mats that people can use at their dining tables.

“We bought a stock of records from charity shops and then members of the team, who all have different jobs in the company, decorated them in different ways.

“We have some with a Minions theme while others are decorated with pictures of Manchester United, Star Wars or the Manchester band Oasis.”

The pop-up was organised by Young Enterprise as part of its Company Programme.

Suzanne Smith, Senior Young Enterprise Manager for Greater Manchester, said the project is aimed at young people aged 15-19 and runs throughout one academic year, enabling them to find out what it’s really like to set up and run a business.

Another crowd puller at the pop-up was a company called Re-Corked using old corks to fashion small objects like fridge magnets, necklaces and plant pots.

It’s run by Year 12 students from Altrincham Girls’ Grammar School and has a dedicated workforce of 24.