Find out more
Wellington College resembled the BBC’s Dragons Den this week when investors met eight budding entrepreneurs.
And like the popular programme, the investors – head of business Simon Roundell and head of Student Alliance Sue Parker – gave each participant a sum of money in exchange for a return on their investment.
The student entrepreneurs – four from Wellington College, two from The Forest School in Winnersh and two from Gordons School in Woking – are taking part in the second Wellington Future Founders project, created last year by Mr Roundell, founder of drinks company Thomson & Scott Amanda Thomson, and members of the Wellington Community.
The WFF project comprises six days and gives the students a chance to meet businesspeople and discuss topics like how to write a business plan, generate sales and manage your cash flow.
This week, they met skills mentor Venandah Madanhi, who taught them about the importance of creating a good first impression. Each student was also given £20 and tasked with making a profit, a percentage of which they agreed they will pay back at the end of the year.
Amanda Thomson, pictured above with the students, Sue Parker, Simon Roundell and Venandah Madanhi, said it was a great first day and she was looking forward to working with the young people over the next year.
She added: “Buried within many of our children is the ability to be a successful entrepreneur/business leader, but how do we tap into that?
“Wellington Future Founders enables us to unlock the potential in these inspirational young students.”
Last year, members of the pilot project made money from their £20 seed fund with ideas ranging from making and selling crochet animals, designing and printing t-shirts and taking people’s glass bottles to the recycling centre for a fee.
They were able to keep 90% of their profits and finished the year with a trip to Sony Pictures Entertainment UK headquarters in London Paddington.
The external pupils were selected to take part in the project by the Wellington College Learning Alliance, which collaborates with state schools to create extra opportunities for their students.
The Future Founders group will meet twice a term in Spring, Summer and Autumn 2024 to work on joint projects with support from business mentors and outside speakers.
