Vauvert pupils tame dragons to earn investment money

NINE groups of nervous-looking Vauvert Primary School pupils pitched their ideas for Christmas products to local businesses to raise money for an off-island residential trip.

The members of Turkey 007 who pitched their sweets idea to the dragons. Left to right, Madi Coquelin, 10, Cameron Norman, 10, Ashton Le Noury, 10, Liva Le Cras and Axel Svejstrup, 11. The dragons, left to right, are Katherine Jane, Lois Madden, Brooke Kenyon, Belinda Ridout, Andy Gilheany, Fiona Babbe and Andy Furniss. (Pictures by Peter Frankland, 28814439)

The Dragons’ Den-style contest, which is held annually at the school, gives pupils the opportunity to work to a brief and develop an idea and present the finished product.

It helps them to develop important business skills, including financial literacy, as well as the confidence to explain their reasoning behind their idea.

The pupils were faced by seven ‘dragons’ as they detailed how they could make a profit from £25-£60 investment.

Up first was Turkey 007, so named because ‘everyone knows James Bond’, alongside a Christmas theme.

Year 6 student Axel Svejstrup, 11, was part of the group, presenting small organza bags filled with two lollipops, a candy cane and four Haribo sweets.

‘It went really well,’ he said.

Madi Coquelin, 10, collects the money while Axel Svejstrup, 11, is congratulated by dragon Andy Gilheany, from Barclays Wealth Management, after he invested £20 in their company. (28814437)

‘We got the funds that we wanted to make them – £40 – now we’ll make our stall snazzy for the school’s Christmas disco and we’ll sell a lot.

‘We’ve even got a lucky toy dip for every third person who will buy a bag of the sweets.’

Investments came from Barclays Wealth Management’s Andy Gilheany, who put in £20, as well as KPMG’s Fiona Babbe and Le Petit Train’s Andy Furniss, who put in £10 each.

Ashton Le Noury, 10, added that the group were very happy.

‘It was nerve-racking but we did it,’ he said.

Andy Furniss, of Le Petit Train, invested£10 in Turkey 007. (28814435)

Of those who gave them the money, Mr Furniss said he had seen some interesting ideas.

‘It’s great this year to see the groups add value to what they’re selling with bolt-ons,’ he said.

‘They’ve thought this up themselves and I think it’s especially important to encourage people to buy into their idea and buy more.’

He said the aim of the dragons was to pass on their experience and help the students think as a business would.

‘There is a lot of experience in the room and it’s great to pass that knowledge on,’ he said.

‘As well it gives us an insight into what is going on in school and how the students are developing.

‘Speaking to us is really hard, so hats off to them, this is good for helping them develop their enterprise skills and boost their confidence.’

Money raised, which in previous years has been £4,000 in total from all the students’ products, will fund a £350 per child four-day off-island residential.