Academy students from across London will be rewarded for their “entrepreneurial spirit” in a Dragon’s Den-style grand final hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Like the popular television show, each team has designed a commercial business idea and will present it to a panel of high-profile judges from the UK financial services industry.

The third annual Livery Academy Awards will take place at The Mansion House on 30 January and winners will be selected by judges on the night.

The competition, which was set up by the Grocers’ Company in 2013, now involves 12 academies competing in preliminary events hosted by the Mercers, Grocers, Drapers and Haberdashers livery companies – with the finalists progressing to battle it out at The Mansion House.

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

“Competing in these awards gives the students valuable practical skills and a chance to develop their innovative thinking.

“It’s an important opportunity to learn about planning, marketing and sales, team working, preparing a business strategy and presenting to a large live audience.

“It is a testament to the students that they rise to the challenge so brilliantly. The Grand Final promises to be an exciting, entertaining and hard-fought evening.”

The sixth-form students have been given the chance to develop their business skills by taking part in a series of practical tasks. Ideas from earlier rounds range from a fun ‘animal tap’ attachment intended to encourage children to wash their hands to an app designed to combat loneliness amongst the elderly.

The winners of the heats in November 2017, who will compete at The Mansion House, are teams from Chelsea Academy, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College in New Cross, Hammersmith Academy and Sir George Monoux College, Walthamstow.

The teams are supported by their teachers and two mentors, often young members of the a livery company, who provide financial and creative advice.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Tara Macpherson, Media Officer Assistant, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 3328 / Mob: 07710 860883 / Email tara.macpherson@cityoflondon.gov.uk