UP and coming entrepreneurs at a St Albans secondary school have put their business minds to the test in a Dragons’ Den style competition.

Last month Francis Bacon School in Drakes Drive held one of their tri-yearly Enrichment Days, which are aimed at instilling life skills in pupils.

During the day sixth formers were asked to create an innovative business idea and present it to a panel of judges which included the deputy head Ian Bailey.

Pupils were put in teams where they had to hold managing, creative, sales and marketing director roles. The day culminated in a pitch to the panel of judges where the students presented their respective ideas and a business plan.

The ideas included a system for car emergency services, a fairground game stall and the winning idea which was a moveable pizza restaurant called ‘Pizza Al Fresco’.

The triumphant team have been entered into the regional heats of the national BASE competition – a contest run by the Institute of Chartered Accountancy with the aim of developing participants’ skills to make them more employable.

Oliver Sayers, a sixth form tutor, said: “Students not only showed innovation and teamwork when designing products, they also showed courage when taking on the fierce dragons! The teams also costed their products and showed an in depth knowledge of market forces. All together a successful day for tomorrow’s potential entrepreneurs.”