Students pitch their business ideas in Dragons’ Lair competition

Budding entrepreneurs had the chance to pitch their business ideas to business professionals during the one-day competition, which was compèred by Mike Grocott from Intercog. Offering their advice, knowledge and support, Appointments Personnel, Barclays, B Hygienic, Collaborative Academic Partnerships, Keele University, MartinCo Estate Agents, NHS, Port Vale FC/Synectics Solutions, Purple Cow Training, Staffordshire and Shropshire Health Informatics Service, Staffordshire University, St James's Place, Virgin Media O2, Chris Sylvester Chartered Accountant, Dr Malcolm Ash, retired Senior Lecturer Barry Whitehouse, and Ben Cooper were all invited along to a act as 'Dragons' for the day.

Students were judged on their business idea, market research, digital marketing campaign, financial planning and forecasting with the top four most viable businesses going head-to-head to present to the judges in a touch final round. The “dragons” went on to select the worthy winners who were judged on their abilities to shine as individuals and most importantly as a team.

The winning pitch was ‘Pet Cycle’, where Level 3 BTEC Business students, Isabel Edwards, Madison Hancock and Eva Wetwood came up with a unique business idea to use recycled materials to create items of clothing for pets.

Second place went to 'Motion Cutz who impressed judges with their mobile barbering business idea closely followed by team 'MODA' in third place (Megan Challinor, Elliot Hantom, Paige Hardy and Ruqayya Zulfiqar). Meanwhile, fourth place was awarded to 'Performance Clothing' made up of learners Mitchell Barrow, Luke Christey, Justin Muchuwe and Jack Pepper.

Daniel Turner, Lecturer in Business at Newcastle College, said: "All of the students who participated demonstrated a real flair for business and it was fantastic to see such creative business ideas. The entrepreneurial skill set is such a valuable asset in business and the students enjoyed the challenge to thinking like an Entrepreneur. Learners were tasked with pitching their businesses to judges individually to show that they have the ability to present and take advice from industry experts. We are really proud of everyone and how seriously they took this important project."

Daniel added: "It's been a tough couple of years for these learners, and so it has been so special to be able to welcome judges back into college for such a fantastic day, so a big thank you to everyone who took time out of their schedules to come along to support our students."

Awards were presented to the winning teams by Carol Shanahan, Founder of Synectics Solutions and Chair of Port Vale Football Club and The Hubb Foundation.