YOUNGSTERS at Thornlow Preparatory School in Weymouth faced up to some dragons as part of an exciting new business project.

Year 7 and 8 pupils from the Weymouth school have been working on their own business ideas throughout the Spring term and presented their products to a panel of local businessmen in their own version of the BBC TV series Dragon’s Den.

Two groups of young entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to Simon Jacobs from Brewin Dolphin, Edward Warr from Cartridge Zone and Simon Meers from Cove Yacht Brokerage as they sought investment to take their product into the market place.

One of the groups has designed Bags 4 U, environmentally friendly shopping bags that will feature either an image of Weymouth or an eco-friendly symbol.

The second team pitched their idea called Krazy Cards, post cards inspired by the local area created by children from the school.

Teacher Lucy Clarke said: “The children have been working on their ideas from concept to design, they have thought about production, selling and marketing and created their own presentations.”

Both teams scored a success with the ‘dragons’.

Mr Jacobs offered to provide 50 free bags to the Bags 4 U team while Mr Warr offered to supply printing for Krazy Cards at just two pence a card provided the children collecting old print cartridges.

Mr Meers also offered to help with the costs of printing for the Bags 4 U team in return for having his company’s logo printed on the bags.

Mrs Clarke said: “The dragons all said afterwards how impressed they were and they thought the business course was a wonderful opportunity for the children.”

Kyle Reynolds, managing director for the group behind Bags 4 U, said: “It’s been quite a good experience of learning how to be a better leader and picking up business skills that will help in life in the future.

Betty Du, managing director of the Krazy Cards team, said: “It’s been really exhilarating and really fun.

“We have had some difficulties but we have all tried to get on and work together to build our presentation.

“I never thought I would do something like this at school”