City business chiefs inspired as pupils enter Dragons’ Den
More than 60 young entrepreneurs from across Edinburgh and East Lothian have dazzled business chiefs with their social enterprise initiatives, products and business plan presentations.
Teams from seven primary and secondary schools were brought together last week for a Dragons’ Den event hosted by pension provider Aegon, in partnership with Social Enterprise Academy.
Aegon Chief Executive Mike Holliday-Williams was joined by Chief Transformation Officer Sarah Barry, Chief Risk Officer Alison Morris and Kirsty Lynch, Head of Social Enterprise Schools (Scotland), as he welcomed pupils into the den at Aegon’s South Gyle offices.
The schools represented included Kaimes School (ASN), Woodlands School (ASN), Gorgie Mills Special School, Oxgangs Primary School (three teams), Queensferry High School, Preston Lodge High School and Castlebrae Community High School’s enhanced support base.
The top prize went to Kaimes Kooks, a school social enterprise that launched at the school in 2022 selling preweighed ingredients packs in Kaimes Kooks bags. The Dragons were amazed with the detailed documentation of their processes and by the extensive skills the youngsters have picked up from their time running the social enterprise.
Every group won a cash prize with a special prize for best pitch going to Extra Soapy Bubbles from Queensferry High School’s enhanced support base. Their pitch, complete with a dancing pig to promote their craft-made soap products, had the dragons captivated. Chief Dragon Mike HolidayWilliams said: “My-co Dragons and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these inspiring presentations from all the amazing young entrepreneurs. The passion, energy and creativity on show has blown us away.
“I have no doubt that all of the social enterprises we’ve met today can go on and make a real and positive impact on society.
One of the young entrepreneurs’ slogans was ‘Just have fun’, and I can’t think of any better advice for all of us to take into our everyday lives.”
Neil McLean, CEO of Social Enterprise Academy, said: “Taking this place-based approach to connecting employees to social change in the community has such an impact for everyone.”