Year 5 pupils from Mile Cross Primary School entered the Dragons’ Den this week, in the finale of a project aimed at inspiring young business minds and raising aspirations.
Teams pitched their business ideas to the real-life dragons from Norwich’s business community, with the overall winners receiving a virtual investment into their idea. The project began two weeks ago at City College Norwich’s StartUp Lounge, where a workshop delivered by Norwich School’s Business Enterprise department challenged pupils to come up with a business idea to impress the dragons. Pupils were mentored by the current Norwich School Lower Sixth, and were tasked with creating business plans, marketing strategies and financial projections for their business.
Ideas ranged from a litter-picking drone to remove plastic from the ocean, a home security system which can also put out fires and a pop-up book for all ages. The winning idea, an automatic fishing pole, impressed the judges with its clear purpose and marketing strategy and professional pitch on the day.
Norwich School was grateful once again for the support of the Business Dragons, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy at Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Stefan Gurney, Executive Director of Norwich Business Improvement District, and Charlotte Beach, Executive Support – Event and Activities Supervisor at City College Norwich.
Commenting on the finale, Nova Fairbank, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:
“The students pitching at today’s Dragon’s Den have done an amazing job. Their presentations were well thought out and they had clearly done lots of work and research before presenting enthusiastic and interesting pitches. The Dragons had a truly difficult decision to select the winning bid. The talent and energy in the room was brilliant and I think we may have seen several future entrepreneurs! Well done to all the teams.”
The school’s relationship with Mile Cross Primary was built through a link with the Norwich Opportunity Area (NOA), which aims to raise aspiration amongst the city’s identified wards. The Dragons’ Den aims to support the the NOA priority to ensure primary-aged children have early access to careers and enterprise activities through their schools.
