Six entrepreneurial school children are celebrating after being crowned business champions in an enterprise challenge.
Darcee Butler, Milly Thompson, Ellie Mikalauskas, Courtney Wayman, Katie Reynolds and Lexie Johnson, from Victoria Lane Academy in Coundon, turned an initial £10 investment into £414 throughout the course of five months and were rewarded with a crafty afternoon at Crafter’s Companion in Newton Aycliffe.
The Business Enterprise challenge was organised by King James I Academy’s Business Studies Department at the beginning of the year.
A number of primary schools took part in the challenge, including Oakely Cross, St Andrews, St Annes and Prince Bishops Primary School.
Teams of six formed mini companies and developed ideas which they could run from the beginning of the year until May, starting with an initial investment of £10.
The group of 10-year-olds from Victoria Lane Academy made an impressive £404 profit from their business efforts, which included selling hand-wrapped bags of sweets for Valentine’s Day, flowers, handmade cards and keyrings for Mother’s Day and organising 50p treat Fridays at school.
Angela Butler, a teaching assistant at the school and a Crafter’s Companion customer, worked with the local craft supplier to create a prize for the winners, which included mini afternoon teas and a class on making a personalised door hanger.
Sara Davies MBE, founder and creative director at Crafter’s Companion, said: “I think it’s so important that we encourage children to explore different career paths, especially at a young age.
“Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of hard work and these kinds of challenges allow children to develop their social skills, team building skills and it also teaches them important things about managing money in an effective way.
“We were delighted to help Prince Bishops Primary School out with the prize to reward the girls’ amazing efforts.
“It was extra special knowing that these budding entrepreneurs come from my home town of Coundon!”
Jane Richardson, head teacher at Victoria Lane Academy, said “For the third year in a row we have taken part in the Enterprise Challenge and this is the second time we have been lucky enough to win!
“Equipping our pupils with skills required to succeed in life is a priority for our school and this challenge provides the pupils involved with an opportunity to apply their Maths learning to real life contexts.
“It is always a pleasure to strengthen our links with the staff at King James and our Year 5s love taking part.”