Students from Chelsea Academy in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea were victorious in a ‘dragons-den’ style competition hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The third annual Livery Academy Awards took place at The Mansion House last week.

Other finalists included sixth-form students from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College, Hammersmith Academy and Sir George Monoux College, Walthamstow.

Like the popular ‘Dragon’s Den’ television show, each team had to come up with a commercial business idea and present it to a panel of high profile judges.

The winning idea involved the creation of an app to connect retired people with social isolation to others other retirees.

The competition was set up by the Grocers' Company in 2013 and has since been extended to include Mercers, Drapers and Haberdashers with a grand final for the various winners hosted at Mansion House.

And this year, preliminary events were hosted by the Mercers, Grocers, Drapers and Haberdashers livery companies.

The awards gave students a chance to develop their business skills by taking part in a series of practical tasks.

Henry Colthurst, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board, said:

“This year saw the highest number of schools taking part in the livery academy awards.

“The final evening was a real testament to the innovation and skills of all students and mentors involved from across London.

“The City Corporation continues to place increasing emphasis on the teaching of skills which enhance employability. We were delighted to support this competition.

“It was a well-fought and exciting victory for Chelsea Academy. Congratulations!”

Adel Bereksi, Curriculum Leader for Business and Economics at Chelsea Academy said:

“We are absolutely delighted to win the final of the Livery Awards event.

“Our students have grown in confidence over the course of the competition. They are now fearless public speakers, a skill which will stand them in good stead for the future.

“We are thankful to the various Livery Companies and the City Corporation for giving us this opportunity, not just to our children but to all young people from the schools that took part.”

All teams were supported by their teachers and two mentors, often young members of the host livery company, who provided financial and creative advice.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, makes grants of around £20 million annually to tackle disadvantage across London.

• We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, the Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important commons in London.

• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies, all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.

1. About the Lord Mayor of the City of London:

• The Lord Mayor is head of the Square Mile’s City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. The Lord Mayor spends some 100 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).

• The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister.

• The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.