THIS year, students took part in a Dragons’ Den-style competition with an Olympic twist. Tutor groups were asked to create products that could be sold either at the Olympics or had an Olympic theme. Each tutor group held a competition to choose their winners who then went through to a head-to-head competition with six finalists eventually chosen.

The students took to the challenge like young Richard Bransons and showed their entrepreneurial skills in a series of challenges. Everything from Olympic umbrellas to goodie bags to Olympic torch ice creams were suggested. Over the course of six weeks, the teams were whittled down to six and these teams went through to the final.

This was held on Monday, July 9 and we were lucky enough to have a couple of very high-profile judges. A representative of industry giants Jaguar Land Rover and Dragons’ Den contestant Neil Westwood, who created the Magic Whiteboard, agreed to come to Wolverley to decide on the winning product. They listened intently as the budding entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas and asked a lot of searching questions. After much deliberation, they decided that the winning group was from 8NSP, and consisted of Lewis Christie, Elliot Dunn, Ollie Lowe, James Machin and Joe Morgan.

This clever group created a bag of sweets called ‘Olympic Goo’s’. They are shaped like the Olympic torch, trainers, javelins etc. and are jelly-like sweets with a gooey centre. Neil said the group was well planned and had a realistic idea with great scope for international growth.

Second and highly commended was 9NSA group Josh Aldridge, Louis Chance and Ashley Hepworth whose idea was “Olympic Torbet”, a sorbet in a Olympic torch cone filled with a variety of healthy sorbet flavours to be sold to spectators at the games. “I really liked this idea,” Neil said, “but the lads didn’t go into enough detail about costs and profit margins.” Mr Barth, business studies teacher, was really pleased with the response: “Some of the ideas have been fantastic. To involve such experienced judges gave this contest some kudos and also helped the students understand the rigours and demands of setting up a new business.”

  • Taken from Wolverley Whispers school magazine