NATIONAL Enterprise Week was celebrated in Hampshire in a unique way by the Institute of Directors.

It invited local companies to take tables at a dinner and give half their places away to 18-25-year-olds.

The dinner, which attracted more than 150 people, was held at Hampshire Cricket's Rose Bowl in West End, near Southampton.

It also helped inspire youngsters to be tomorrow's business leaders.

The IoD's Hampshire chairman, Michael Foote, said: "A successful economy needs entrepreneurs like a fire needs a spark.

"Today's start-up businesses are tomorrow's wealth generators, tax-payers and employers."

Master of ceremonies at the dinner was Aaron Ross, who was cleaning cars in Portsmouth as a teenager and an IT millionaire by the time he was 20.

Companies attending from Hampshire included BDO Stoy Hayward, De La Rue, CareMax, Clydesdale Bank, InferMed, Jenton Internation, Microturbo, ProposalGenie, South West Trains, TallyGenicom, Tenon and Vail Williams. The dinner followed a Young Enterprise Masterclass, where more than 100 local school children were introduced to successful entrepreneurs and involved in hands-on activities with them.

"We want to create a buzz of excitement about being in business," said Alan Montgomery, the IoD's branch education liaison officer, who is also a Young Enterprise tutor and organised the day.

One student, Telawa Bradshaw, said: "I found it to be a real insight into the real world."

Another, Scott Rodgers, said: "The evening broke down the barriers between generations and was really inspirational."

For more pictures see the Business South supplement in today's Daily Echo. This event also features in next month's complimentary issue of Hampshire Business, the Daily Echo's monthly magazine, available from Thursday. To place your order, contact peter.bullwinkle@soton-echo.co.uk