Meet the Tycoon finalists!
Peter Jones CBE today announces the eight teams of budding entrepreneurs that have reached the final of the nationwide enterprise competition, Tycoon.
It has been another long and tough decision, with so many incredible teams and ideas. We are delighted to announce that the eight finalists for Tycoon 2017, heading to Buckingham Palace on 1 March are:
Key Stage One and Two
Rocking Readers from Biggar Primary School in South Lanarkshire. The team sold second hand books and book bags to promote reading as well as an eco-friendly message.
Snazzy Snax from South Parade Primary School in Wakefield. The team set up and ran a healthy tuck shop for Key Stage two pupils.
Key Stage Three
Ethical Education (KnitterNatters) from Imberhorne School in East Grinstead. The team created a special gift experience, bringing together older people who like to knit, but might be lonely or isolated, with children who would like to learn how to knit for free.
Wish upon a Jar from Queen Anne’s School, Caversham. The team set up a personalised gift company selling necklaces, keyrings and large decorative jars.
Key Stage Four
Heavenly from Preston School in Yeovil. The team sold a wide-range of sweet treats in school and the local area, donating 25% of their profits to Feed The Children.
We Cann Do Gifts from Cann Bridge School in Plymouth. The team made and sold a range of handcrafted greeting cards and products for children and adults.
Key Stage Five
PumpIt Water from Copthall School in London. The team designed and sold bottled water to raise money to build a water pump in a school in a developing country.
SOLO from The Royal Hospital School in Ipswich. The team sold bold and fashionable clothing and accessories for teenagers.
This year, the stakes were higher than ever before with almost 400 teams of children as young as six went head-to-head, starting their own businesses and trading between October and December 2017.
These eight teams stood out amongst over 378 teams taking part in the competition from across the UK. The budding young tycoons received start-up loans from the Peter Jones Foundation for Enterprise, and all turned a fantastic profit during the competition.
In total, over two thousand high-calibre students received funding to start their businesses. This year, businesses spanned from from homemade soaps and personalised necklaces to biometric scanners and emergency wallets.
Delighted by the inspirational businesses in the final, Peter Jones CBE said:
“I‘ve been blown away by the ambitious and inventive businesses that have been started as part of this year’s Tycoon competition. It will be a great honour to announce the winners at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in March, alongside HRH The Duke of York, KG, Patron of the Peter Jones Foundation. I look forward to meeting all of the students and teams and hearing even more about their business ventures.”
The competition sits at the heart of Peter’s mission to put enterprise at the heart of the education system. Schools involved spanned the length and breadth of the country, from Elgin in Scotland to Helston in Cornwall.
The impact of encouraging the nation’s young people to take part in Tycoon and experience firsthand enterprise skills is clear to see. According to a survey of students that took part in the initiative, 88% of students felt that by taking part in Tycoon they had developed skills making them more employable, and 100% of teachers felt that Tycoon had improved their students’ financial awareness.
Stay tuned for news about the Buckingham Palace final, where the winners will be announced and presented trophies by HRH The Duke of York KG and Peter Jones CBE.