Students pitch their business ideas in Dragons’ Lair competition

The budding entrepreneurs had three minutes to pitch their ideas to five business professionals. The two days of competition was Compèred by representatives from Impact Management Training and Intercog. The judges (from Apex Connected, Argos, B Hygienic, Dove Child Estate Agents, Michelin, Hanley Economic Building Society, OCJ Marketing, Purple Cow Training, Siemens and Sylvester Fun Gym) gave their advice and expertise to the hopeful students.

Students were judged on their business idea, market research, promotional campaign, financial planning and forecasting at an exhibition style event. The top five most viable businesses presented in the College Boardroom. The “dragons” went on to select a winning team who would receive the cash prize, provided by the sponsors, to help launch their business idea. The competition was sponsored for the ninth year running by the UK's leading supplier of plumbing, heating and solar products, Altecnic Ltd based in Stafford, and recruitment agency, Appointments Personnel based in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Daniel Turner, Lecturer in Business at Newcastle College, said: “The students who participated excelled, showing exceptional creativity and business acumen. We’re all very proud of the students and I’m sure they’ll be successful in which ever field of business they end up focusing on.”

The winning level 3 pitch was ‘Yen Candles’, where Level 3 BTEC Business student David Smith proposed opening a candle business specialising in artisan organic candles. The winning Level 2 BTEC student was Mark Japson who pitched ‘A Pac’, a unique delivery and courier service.

Daniel continued: “This competition is an assessed part of the Vocational Business course and gives the students a taste of what it takes to set up your own business and become an entrepreneur.”