HUNDREDS of youngsters celebrated Thurrock’s Next Top Boss at an award ceremony to mark the end of the competition.

Gold paralympian Danny Crates joined top executives from organisations including Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Thurrock Council, Lakeside Shopping Centre, RWE npower, Port of Tilbury and the Royal Opera House at the ceremony at the Thameside Theatre in Grays last week.

Prizes including top performer, best research and creative genius were among the categories the 75 participants were nominated for. Will McKee, Development Corporation chairman, said: “The Next Top Boss awards showcased the range of home grown talent we have in our borough. The participants showed initiative, originality, teamwork and dedication – key attributes both in business and in life – and it was fantastic to celebrate their achievements.

“We want more young people to pursue the careers available to them here on their doorstep – to think opportunity and think Thurrock.”

All of the nominees will be given the chance to apply for apprenticeships and work experience placements in Thurrock and the lucky winners scooped a range of prizes including a week at the UEL Knowledge Dock, laptops, iPads and BlackBerrys.

The next phase of the initiative will be a careers and education guide, which will be given to more than 1,000 17 to 19-year-olds.

An exhibition of the participants’ work will be at the Thurrock Centre for Business, in George Street, Grays, on Monday, January 31, from 11am to 6pm.