Wannabe entrepreneurs have their moment in the boardroom

Young wannabe entrepreneurs had their moment in a city boardroom yesterday after showing off their products during a project styled on the TV programme ‘The Apprentice.’

The 30 students from Tower Hamlets pitched mock business ideas to a panel of professionals, as part of the City of London Corporation’s Summer Business School at Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets in the City.

The pupils from Oaklands School and Bishop Challoner Boys and Bishop Challoner Girls Schools spent three days creating photo frames and greeting cards. They made a business plan, chose a company name and created their wares by hand reminiscent of the BBC’s The Apprentice.

The students then set up shop and sold their products to Lloyds’ employees during a bustling two hour lunch period at their city offices at Old Broad Street. They made a �530 profits which will be donated to the charity Save the Children.

Using skills developed during the project including presenting, pricing and profit forecasting the youngsters then pitched their business ideas to the panel for feedback.

Oaklands Year 9 student, Mohammed Joynul Islam, said: “We were given a great insight to aspects of being an entrepreuneur – how to carry ourselves and work together in a team. It helped to build our confidence and taught us about sales and profit.”

The Summer Business School is part of the The Employabilty Skills for City Careers programme funded by the City of London Corporation and delivered by Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership.