08.03.07
Falmouth School gearing up for 'Dragons Den' competition

Eight pupils from Falmouth School are preparing to get their own business up and running in the hope of wining the business and social enterprise competition, Business Adventure.

The enterprising year 10 pupils have been developing the idea to run a school shop called 'Refresh', selling everything from deodorant to revision guides.

The group will be presenting on the progress of their ideas to a panel of judges at the Eden Project later this month when they go head to head with thirteen schools from across Cornwall and Devon.

Business Adventure is running for its second year and is run by Business Link Devon and Cornwall in conjunction with Connexions Cornwall and Devon, Crag Rats, Devon Educational Business Partnership and the Learning Skills council.

School teacher Rod Van Der Lem said, "The group members are getting a lot out of this project and by assigning themselves roles like managing director and finance director they are getting a realistic insight into what running a small business is all about. The group identified that pupils could do with a place in which they could freshen up and buy the products that will help them work more effectively at school."

14-year-old team member, Jasmine MacPhee said, "We want to create an environment where people can come and get the things they need throughout the working day. Items like deodorant might not be essential but they're things that people use in the school on a daily basis. So, we're fulfilling a demand and we hope that the shop will be a success as a result of this."

The group has had some expert advice from a Business Link adviser who has appeared on the BBC television show, the Dragon's Den. Rob Kinna, the inventor of the BAK-JAK™, appeared on the TV show last year and successfully won £60,000 worth of investment from two of the dragons. Following a visit from the Business Link entrepreneur, the Falmouth pupils now have some hints and tips on pitching to the judges and some good ideas on how to make their shop a success.

Rob Kinna said, "The pupils have been very motivated by the competition and I think watching the DVD of my appearance on the Dragons Den helped inspire them a little bit. Business Adventure is a great platform for pupils from across Cornwall and Devon to find out more about entrepreneurship and business development. It's a scheme perfectly designed to nurture their talents and ideas whilst at the same time offering support from Business Link experts who can give them the focus and direction they sometimes need."

Falmouth will be the only school representing West Cornwall and will face tough competition from other Cornish schools based in Liskeard, Launceston and Torpoint. The grand final takes place at Eden on Monday 19th March.

The Business Adventure website; www.business-adventure.co.uk will be featuring highlights from the young people's presentations on the day.

For further information contact Adam McPherson of the Marketing PR Company on 01566 771861 or email amcpherson@marketing-pr.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Business Link Devon and Cornwall through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Editor's notes:

Business Link provides a free information and enquiry service via an information gateway on the web www.bldc.co.uk and via the telephone on 0845 600 9966 to all businesses and those considering starting a business. Additionally It provides impartial business advice and support through a network of partner organisations, which it co-ordinates, and a register of independent business practitioners. Business Link for Devon and Cornwall delivers the national Business Link service to the region under contract from the South West RDA.

Business Link has received Objective One investment (European Regional Development Fund and EAGGF) to help companies improve performance and grow.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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