Dragons Apprentice Challenge 2017 Launch

Junior Dragons Apprentice Challenge launches for the first time in St Albans

This November will also see the launch of the Junior Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge, which will be a 6 week challenge working with local primary school teams to offer a springboard into the world of business for year 5 & 6’s. These young students will be given £50 to invest into their very own business ideas and will be mentored by year 13’s from local schools.

Sixth form challenge launched on 4 October

Over 80 ambitious students have taken up the Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge this year across St Albans and Harpenden; 11 different teams will compete over the next few months to increase their £100 start up cash into over £1000 by mid-February.

11 teams of Year 12 students from schools across St Albans and Harpenden have entered this Years’ Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge. Over 80 students attended the launch which was held on Tuesday October and hosted by Loreto College.

The students don’t work alone; the business challenge which was launched by the CVS St Albans in 2009 matches each team with a local business mentor (their Dragon). Local organisations with colleagues donating their time and expertise to act as Dragons include:

First Friday Business Consultants, The Rotary Club St Albans Priory, Springwell Business Coaching, The Little HR Company, Aon Hewitt, Debenhams Ottaway, The Soroptimists International, The Collective Design, Amthal Security, F1 Digital and St Albans District Council.

All teams taking part are matched with a charity partner, to whom they will be donating all of their team’s profits, so this challenge provides a great deal of income for our local charity groups. Local Charity Partners this year include: St Albans’ Mencap, Rennie Grove Hospice, Onesight Foundation, Harpenden Money Advice Centre, Youthtalk, Crohns & Colitis UK, Transition St Albans, The Daylight Club, Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline, Kids @ The Base and The Samaritans SW Herts.

Schools and Colleges taking part include: St John Lawes, St Albans Girls School, Sandringham School, Loreto College, Nicholas Breakspear School, Oaklands College, St Columbas College and Samuel Ryder Academy.

The teams will be designing and selling products, holding events and creating micro businesses all across St Albans and Harpenden and will be asking for the support of other local businesses and residents along the way.

Last year The St Albans teams in the challenge raised over £13,000, and the overall winners were Team Cohesion from St Albans Girls School who presented £1,683 to The Abbeyfield Society, which provides care and support for older people. The winners this year will be announced at the Awarding Evening set for the 25 April 2017.

The Challenge is additionally sponsored by The University of Hertfordshire, JPA Furniture, Thomas Education, My Mustard and St Albans Chamber of Commerce.

Any schools, businesses or charities across Hertfordshire that are interested in taking part in The Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge or the Junior Dragons Apprentice in the future should contact info@dragonsapprenticechallenge.com.