Photo caption: The winning students from Kings Academy (l to r back row) Sam Smitheringale, Richard Hewitson, Alfie Young and James Byrne. (front row l to r) Nick Grubb, Duncan Bannatyne and Jamie Patel.
BBC Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne was in the region yesterday (Monday 17 January) to judge business pitches from enterprising Tees Valley students.
Enterprise education provider Young Enterprise North East (YENE) in conjunction with BBC North East and Cumbria invited four groups of students aged 16 – 18 from schools across Teesside who have set generated their own business ideas through the YENE Company Programme to pitch their ideas to the fiery dragon.
The winning group was, ThermoLucet - students from The Kings Academy Sixth Form College in Middlesbrough with their thermo-chromic iPod and iPhone cases business idea. When heat is applied to the case, it changes colour. They also wish to market their own thermo-chromic paint. The team won train tickets to visit the BBC’s headquarters in London for a tour and a Q&A session with a well known BBC personality.
Duncan Bannatyne said: “My fellow judges and I have been greatly inspired by the students themselves and by the standard of their business ideas. All of the students had potential to enter the real dragon’s den and get investment. We have some great budding entrepreneurs here in the North East and this is a sign of positive things to come for the region.
“It is fantastic that practical enterprise education programmes such as Young Enterprise North East are being delivered in schools and colleges as not only are students learning about business but seeing that they can actually do it on their own and make it work.
“The students from Kings Academy impressed me their innovation and science behind the product. I’m sure they will be a success.”
As well as Duncan, judges included YENE chief executive Catherine Marchant and head of BBC North East and Cumbria Phil Roberts who judged students on the viability of their business plan, marketing strategy and how they will finance the products.
Young Enterprise North East chief executive Catherine Marchant said: “It is great to have had the opportunity to work with Duncan Bannatyne and the BBC, who have given the students valuable insights on how they can develop their business ideas and motivate them for future business success. Receiving sound business advice from a truly successful entrepreneur from our region is a wonderful experience for these young people.”
ThermoLucet development manager Nick Grubb said: “The future is very bright for our company. We’ve had a great day today, showing Duncan Bannatyne our business idea was an amazing experience.”
The pitches were filmed by the BBC and will air on various BBC channels.
Other participating schools were:
• Middlesbrough College, Middlesbrough.
Ecocessity
A board game called Ecopoly, which is similar to the classic game of Monopoly but adapted to feature environmentally friendly places. If it is successful they are planning to introduce a range of products including eco-stationary, eco-occasion and eco-guitar pick pouches.
• Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough.
Priori Tee
High end fashion T-shirts where every T-shirt sold, 10% will be donated to charity. The team learnt that 98% of their target market wear T-shirts and feel this would be an ideal way to raise money for charities.
• Carmel RC College, Darlington.
Dream Maker
A service to help people achieve what they want. For example, they surveyed year seven pupils at their school whose biggest desire was to get to know more people at their new secondary school. So the team organised a year seven Halloween disco. Other things they have found is busy people don't have enough time to wrap Christmas presents, so they are offering a present wrapping service.
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