Schoolchildren pitch business ideas to Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis - with VIDEO and PICTURES

Pupils from across the country vied against finalists from Shropshire, Staffordshire and the Black Country for a chance to rub shoulders with the celebrity guests including Rio Olympics gold medal canoeist Joe Clarke, of Stone, CBBC presenters Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes and Young Apprentice star Ashley Porter-Exley.

The event was held at Telford International Centre.

Each team presented their proposal to judging panels in an ‘X Factor’ challenge at the convention involving 11 to 15-year-olds from 150 secondary schools for the finale of a year-long competition that has involved 40,000 pupils in total.

It is the fifth annual challenge organised by Telford-based businessmen Ben and Michael Dyer, who want to inspire the next generation of industry leaders and give them the skills for a bright future as entrepreneurs and employees.

The challenge for the older groups was to showcase their skills in developing an app for stationers Ryman, which was founded by Mr Paphitis, while the younger groups were tasked with coming up with promotional ideas for a live event or attraction to promote Galactica, the first flying virtual reality rollercoaster at Alton Towers.

Among the participants were 11 Shropshire schools competing in the final. These were Adams’ Grammar School, Burton Borough School, Charlton School, Concord College, Ercall Wood Technology College, Hadley Learning Community, Idsall School, Shrewsbury Academy, Telford Priory School, Thomas Adams School and Thomas Telford School.

Mr Paphitis said: “We agreed to sponsor the challenge four or five years ago. We thought it was a brilliant idea and we were pleased to add our name to it. When we saw the first event we though this was such an amazing idea and talk about business. It’s an opportunity to talk about what’s out there and to talk about business and how uncomplicated it is.

“Kids go to school and they are forced to learn all sorts of things. Yes, they need to learn to read and write. There’s other things that we need to learn about life skills and you need to learn them at an early age and business is one of those skills.

“Business isn’t complicated – it’s one of those things that we do every single day of our lives. The presentations are absolutely amazing. Not only are they like sponges, but as soon as you discuss things with them they come up with another idea.”

He was joined at the event by CBBC’s Sam Nixon and co-presenter Mark Rhodes, who attended Darlaston Community School, in Walsall, and were the stage hosts.

Mark said: “ It has gone really well today. There are a lot of kids here. It’s good and everyone looks really excited. They all looked like they are pleased with their pitches. We’re hosting on the stage and handing out the prizes.”

Mollie Powell, 14, of Idsall School, in Shifnal, said: “We gave a presentation to a panel of three judges and it went very well. The whole experience has been really interesting.”