Party in a box plan a winner for school entrepreneurs
Young entrepreneurs from a Northamptonshire school have scooped top prize in a Dragons' Den styled competition for the second time in a row.
Caroline Chisholm School, a specialist business and enterprise college in Wootton Fields, walked away with 500 and a glass trophy after scooping first prize in the competition organised the South West Area Northamptonshire schools partnership and the Milton Keynes Institute of Directors(IOD).
Students from the shortlist of five schools were asked to present their innovative ideas in front of a panel of high profile business professionals at the event hosted by the Open University in Milton Keynes.
Sue Rose, head of business and enterprise at Caroline Chisholm, said: "The students put together a project called No Time? Like the Present! which was based around the idea of providing all the accessories for a party in a box.
"This included tableware, party bags, prizes, games, facilities to order a cake and invitation and thank you cards. All the adults had to do was to book the venue and arrange the food.
"It was aimed at parents who were willing to pay for a product which saved time. The team of five students did lots of surveys with parents at our nursery, carried out market research and submitted a thorough business plan."
The contest was open to schools in Northamptonshire and the Milton Keynes area and sponsored by companies from Buckinghamshire. About 50 entries were submitted by different schools.
Mrs Rose said: "The final round was quite intense and the students faced some touch questions from the dragons on the night but they were very surprised to win. They couldn't believe it."
Danetre School, in Daventry, was presented with 250 and a trophy as the runners-up for their heel insert for shoes and third place went to Denbigh School from Milton Keynes. Every team member from the shortlisted schools received a digital camera from Argos.
Last year Caroline Chisholm School took the top prize for a tap dancing shoe which lit up every time it tapped the floor.
IOD chairman Philip Smith said: "There has been a great leap in the quality of entrants since our Dragons' Den final last year and I think it illustrates quite clearly the value of our school students."
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