Youngsters given business tips by ‘dragons’

JUDGES for this year’s Venturefest Yorkshire Dragons’ Den-style competitions have visited pupils at a York secondary school as they make preparations for the event.

Dr Paul Shepherd of the York Merchant Adventurers and investor Mark Woodward visited pupils at Archbishop Holgate’s School to oversee their preparations and to give advice on how to best present their ideas in a business environment.

Archbishop Holgate’s is one of 28 schools from Yorkshire that will take part in Enterprise Inspirations at the one-day Venturefest event, supported by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward,  on February 10 at York Racecourse.

Enterprise Inspirations is sponsored by CPP Group and organised by NYBEP, the business and education partnership for York and North Yorkshire, and involves primary, secondary schools and colleges from across the region. 

In the “Griffins’ Nest”, students from Archbishop Holgate’s School will compete with other schools across the region and pitch their new product idea to the judges to win a first prize of £1,000 or two runner up prizes of £500 to direct into enterprise education, donated by the York Merchant Adventurers.

Competing teams of Key Stage Four students from schools in the region have been tasked with coming up with a product or service that will benefit their local community.

Entrants will be in the company of eight businesses who will pitch in the annual Venturefest Investment Competition to win a prize package worth more than £28,000.

Jim Farmery, assistant director for business at Yorkshire Forward, said: “Innovation and entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of a healthy economy both regionally and nationally. By giving young people the opportunity to put their ideas to a panel of experts we hope to show them that their ideas can make a difference – not just to themselves but to the region as a whole.”

Mark Woodward, who is one of the Investment Competition judges and a member of the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels, said: “These are the business minds of tomorrow and it is great to see Venturefest Yorkshire, and local schools, encouraging and celebrating this enterprising spirit. 

“This will be my third year as an investor at Venturefest and I’m looking forward to seeing what exciting propositions the event will offer.”

Dr Paul Shepherd, Governor of the York Merchant Adventurers, said: “Our company has a long history and a tradition of offering competitive awards to stimulate entrepreneurial initiatives. 

“Supporting the Enterprise Inspiration section at Venturefest, and particularly the Griffins’ Nest competition, represents an effective way for the company to help a significant number of young people to experience enterprise activities, and by so doing helping to inspire a future generation of Merchant Adventurers – the entrepreneurs of the future.”

Venturefest Yorkshire celebrates science, technology and innovation across the north of England and is free to attend. 

For more information and to register, visit www.venturefestyorkshire.net.