Student entrepreneurs to enter ‘Dragons’ Den’ for Hospice

Monday, 8 November 2010

Budding entrepreneurs from Edinburgh's Telford College will face their own 'Dragons' Den' style interrogation today, as part of a unique fundraising initiative for St Columba's Hospice.

The students, who are studying for their NC in Business, have been working on a real-life entrepreneurial challenge, including setting up their own company and selecting a product to buy and sell at a profit.

The students' business idea is an innovative style of headphones, which their research has shown will fill a niche in the youth market for a funky, low-cost and high quality design in this product category. However, this isn't any ordinary business, as the students have decided that half of the profits from the sale of their headphones will go to St Columba's Hospice.

Today the students will pitch their business idea to a den of 'Dragons' in the hope of winning investment, including Telford College Principal Miles Dibsdall OBE, selected tutors, local businessman Jack Richardson, and Linsay Given Black, a St Columba's Hospice volunteer and Edinburgh businesswoman. If successful, the students will sell their headphones to Telford College students on 1 December 2010.

Gerry Reilly from Telford College said:

"This challenge has given the students fantastic and real life experience in business, and has helped them to develop practical skills that will help them in their future business careers, including market research, writing a business plan and marketing strategy, and delivering a successful business pitch."

Linsay Given Black, Guest 'Dragon', volunteer for St Columba's Hospice and Edinburgh businesswoman said:

"St Columba's Hospice is a wonderful local charity and I've been involved with them for many years, so I'm thrilled that the students have decided to support them as part of their business idea. Their decision for their business to give back to their local community in this way is very impressive, and it shows the calibre of the business leaders that we can look forward to coming into the workforce in the future. I wish them every success with this project and with their business careers and we thank them for their initiative and support."

Ends

For more information please contact Isabelle Herlt, PR and Communications Manager, on 0131 551 1381 or iherlt@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

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