An aspiring teenage entrepreneur visited the House of Lords last night to discuss young people in business.

Sophie Brand, 19, Loughton resident and former pupil of Bancroft School, Woodford Green, was one of a group of teenagers invited to interview businessman and entrepreneur, Lord Jonathan Marland, by volunteer group Global Youth Network (GYN).

Lord Marland is a former energy minister, as well as a minister for business, innovation and skills. He was also Treasurer of the Conservative party.

Miss Brand is currently the business and economics editor of her university magazine, as well as a conservation leader for the National Trust of Scotland and an enthusiastic hiker.

Miss Brand said: “The GYN is a fantastic opportunity to gain firsthand experience of real world politics and economics.”