Newcastle youngster pitch money making ideas to Dragons

Budding young entrepreneurs will pitch their money-making ideas to a Dragon’s Den-style panel of experts at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum this week.

Fifteen teams of children from schools across the North East and Birmingham will unveil their business acumen to a judging panel, watched by scores of family and friends against the backdrop of the inspirational Great Hall in Newcastle’s Discovery Museum.

The Skills to Shine Summer School Final Showcase on Wednesday September 25 between 2pm and 5pm is the culmination of a six-week long programme working with 400 youngsters during their summer holidays, drawing out their entrepreneurial talent in enterprise workshops.

All the extra effort of the 11-year-old children has paid off handsomely, representing their respective schools to chase the summer school winners’ title.

Skills to Shine managing director Lindsey Dunn employed 27 youth workers, business experts, actors and teachers to enthuse pupils during the summer holidays with the practical skills they will need to succeed in their future careers and everyday life.

Her team brought the empty corridors and classrooms of schools in Birmingham, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland to life while they were closed for the summer break. The children were also taken on trips to fire their imaginations, such as getting the chance to sit in Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew’s dug out at St James’ Park.

And during term time, she works with local businesses such as Dunelm Homes, Frank Haslam Milan and Dicksons Butchers to bring business people and schools together to inspire children with first hand accounts of working life while raising company employees’ skills and morale.

Lindsey said: “The summer school grand final is the culmination of weeks of hard work by the pupils who will get to showcase their skills to a judging panel and their family and friends in spectacular surroundings.

“Our programme is based around improving literacy and maths skills through a series of enterprise challenges. Our challenges ranged from maximising profit from a £5 investment through to children composing, writing and marketing their own book.

“Their enthusiasm, enterprise and talent really is inspiring, especially for some youngsters who struggle with self confidence. We teach them that the opportunities are there for them to achieve the career they want to.

“We have worked with the pupils to show them that all great entrepreneurs start off with a great idea and the passion to make it work.”

Lindsey is planning to roll out her successful summer schools programme to reach thousands more children in schools across the UK next year.

The classes help boost children’s confidence and make new friends before they make the leap from primary to secondary school.

Lindsey – who has an MA in special educational needs - spent four years working in 35 schools across the Wansbeck area of south-east Northumberland as an enterprise co-ordinator, before deciding to start up Skills to Shine, which has been awarded £270,000 of National Lottery funding to expand its work.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →