Member Article

Vantage Volunteers Embark On Million Makers Journey

A team of budding entrepreneurs from Vantage Motor Group took part in a Dragons’ Den- style pitch this week as part of the Million Makers challenge, a national competition where teams of employees collectively raise over £1 million for The Prince’s Trust.

The team of ten is made up of employees from across the car retailer’s locations and business functions. ‘Team Vantage’ will now kick off its effort to raise £10,000 profit in six months after pitching its business plan to the ‘dragons’ and successfully securing £1,500 of seed funding.

The dragons, made up of Vantage CEO Mark Robinson, Gordons LLP Business Development Director Jo Williamson and Olivia Jeffrey from The Prince’s Trust, quizzed the team’s business plan to ensure its robustness before being satisfied enough to grant the team with the seed funding.

Among the activities the team has planned are the design and sale of umbrellas and travel mugs, a Vantage team tour around its 25 dealerships, and various other fundraising initiatives including a Christmas raffle and individual centre challenges.

Now in its tenth year, the Million Makers initiative has raised over £8.3 million for The Trust since it launched. Last year, Vantage became a Patron of The Prince’s Trust and Vantage Managing Director Mark Robinson also joined The Trust’s Regional Development Committee for Yorkshire and Humber.

Mark said: “I’m very proud of our business’ Patronage of The Trust and our involvement in the Million Makers competition is the latest in a series of fundraising initiatives we have planned which will go towards helping disadvantaged young people improve their life-chances.

“Team Vantage pitched a compelling business plan with confidence and commitment, demonstrating sound commercial acumen throughout, even during the rather challenging dragon-style questioning around the financials!

“The real work starts now though as the team begins to turn its business plan into a reality. It will be a test of time management, project planning, communication and leadership for those involved and I look forward to watching and supporting them in their endeavours over the next six months.”

The Million Makers final will take place in March 2018.

Last month (September), a team of walkers from Vantage completed the gruelling 24-mile Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks Challenge, raising £10,000 for The Trust.

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