LESSONS in music, food and business were dished out to schoolchildren in Dorchester by dragon slayer Levi Roots.

The creator of Reggae Reggae Sauce, who shot to fame after appearing on the television show Dragon’s Den, visited the Thomas Hardye School to speak to Year 9 pupils this afternoon.

He told the students of how his grandmother had inspired him and taught him to make the sauce, his shared passion for music and food and his journey since he successfully persuaded two of the dragons to invest in his business.

There were also several musical interludes as Mr Roots brought along his beloved guitar, which was the same one he played in his renowned television pitch.

Mr Roots revealed to the students that he had never heard of Dragon’s Den before going on the show and had to be asked three times before making an appearance.

He said the key to his success was having a ‘USP’ – unique selling point – and that was the combination of his passions for music and food.

Mr Roots said: “I wanted to have the biggest USP ever, something that once the dragons saw it they were not going to forget about me.”

He admitted to making mistakes in his pitch but said the dragons were not looking for him to be perfect, they were looking for a ‘rough diamond’.

Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh both invested in the sauce, which has gone on to become one of the fastest selling products of all time, but within 18 months Mr Roots brought out Mr Farleigh’s share.

He said the reason he continues to work well with his ‘mentor’ Mr Jones is because he invested in him, not the product, and has always encouraged him to be himself.

Mr Roots, whose business is now worth more than £50million, told the students: “Never forget where you are coming from, be you.”

He added that one of the keys to being a successful entrepreneur was looking at the long term rather than just making short term decisions.

Mr Roots said: “Without long term planning it’s not a business and if you can’t think long term you are not an entrepreneur.”

He added: “If you want to be a success anyone can because if I did it anyone can do it.

“Anybody can be an entrepreneur, it doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter what language you speak, making money is up to you – you have got to want it.

“You are allowed to make mistakes, that’s how you learn.”

The visit was organised by teacher Catriona Brady and headteacher Mike Foley said it had really got the students excited.

He said: “I think they will be inspired by him.”