What an exciting update to publish today!!
Quilley School Dragons Den 2016
If you remember from previous Blog posts, the most promising and viable business ideas from each class were put forward for consideration in the final Dragons Den scenario which took place on the 17th May 2016 at Quilley School in Eastleigh.
This was a pivotal moment for each student company to hone their skills and further develop their Dragons Den pitch, with PowerPoint presentations and handouts.
The Finalists
The finalists were 14 student business ideas that were pitched to the Dragons.Business ideas ranged from: - Gym and Fitness Clothes Company, Wholesale pet supplies, a Company that made a Phone APP, Pet Photography Business, a Cube Prototype to help kids tell the time, Book Mark for Dyslexic people, Pet Sitting and Dog Walkers, Bespoke Perfume Bottle Company, Fruit Smoothie Company and several other viable business ideas.
Special recognition should go to the Bespoke Perfume Company whose Dragons Den pitch was the only solo presentation. The other members of the student’s team were out on a school trip. To stand in front the Dragons and the other students and give their pitch solo, was a notable and courageous thing to do.
Scoring Criteria
Quilley School Dragons Den 2016
Each Dragons Den pitch was scored out of 10 for the following categories: -
- Business Idea
- Business Planning Process
- Marketing Strategy
- Financial Forecast
- Teamwork
- Pitch
The winners and runners up were presented vouchers from Sainsburys and also Sainsburys made a donation to the school
Prizes donated by Sainsburys were presented by Lesley Powell and Russell Oakley who are based at the Hedge End Store, with certificates presented by Chris Herbert, Economic Development Officer, Eastleigh Borough Council.
After much deliberation, the winners can be announced as the following: -
Quilley School Dragons Den 2016
1st Place Book Huggers
Specialised kind of book mark which has different coloured overlays and a clip on light to help dyslexic people read
2nd Place Bespoke Perfume Bottles
Bespoke and Individually tailored perfume bottles which can be designed online at the Perfume Company Website
3rd Place Fruiti Fresh Smoothies
Natural and free from artificial ingredients and preservatives made from locally sourced fruit and sold at sporting events and gyms
Paul Marsh Scores a Hat Trick as the Most Successful Dragon!
Paul Marsh was naturally pleased that 3 of his Dragons Teams were short listed to pitch their business ideas to the Dragons panel and the other school students. Quilley School Dragons Den 2016
And especially pleased when those students that were in his business enrichment group were all voted as the best business Dragons Den pitches in the school.
Paul says that it was recognised that all the winners came from his Year 9 Tutor Group and accepts that he had his part to play in this competition in ensuring his students stood a good chance of winning (which they did)
Although Paul also believes that the Group Tutor Teacher Mr Pascal Garrard deserves the most recognition, as he is the teacher which is with these student’s day in, day out, every day of the week and the students are a credit to his dedication to the profession of teaching.
Paul would also like to point out that each of 14 student company finalists who pitched their business to the dragons were winners in their own right as far as the Dragons were concerned.
Although some students didn’t win the Dragons Den competition this year, they deserved to be congratulated for their effort and ingenuity and should not give up on their ambitions of having their own company one day. In fact this competition has really shown that the students in the very least have the ideas and enthusiasm to start their own businesses.
Perhaps next year, they could tweak their business plans and re-present their business ideas to the Dragons again. As there were so many good ideas, and unfortunately out of the whole school there could only be 3 winners
The Quilley ‘Dragons’ -
Rayner Brammall (Desauty Ltd), Roger
David Vane (SBGN) Robin , Simon Whitbread (SBGN) ,
Martin Samuel (Words Finance) , Terry Murphy (Grasshoppers Don’t Walk),
Chris Herbert (Eastleigh BC), Lesley Powell (Sainsbury), Russell Oakley (Sainsbury),
Angela Wright (Crestwood), David Pollard (FSB), Nicky Goodridge (Quilley),
Next Year
It is envisaged, that due to the success of this business enrichment activity which had the whole school buzzing with interest and dedication, that this type of event might become a yearly event. Quilley School Dragons Den 2016
So if you are a local business owner who can spare some time to tutor some students in business studies, please contact FSB Wessex, Quilley School or SBGN and leave your contact details, as all offers of help are gratefully received.
