Partner Article

TV Dragon challenges teens to turn tenners into turnover

Young people in the North East have been challenged to get a business off the ground with only ten pounds.

Peter Jones, star of BBC TV programme Dragons’ Den, and Chairman of business-led enterprise campaign Enterprise UK, this week encouraged young people from the region to enter the Make Your Mark with a Tenner competition.

Now in its third year, the nationwide competition challenges young people to make as much money and social impact as they can with a £10 note - in just one month. A share of £200,000 funded by Peter Jones and Michael and Xochi Birch, founders of social networking site Bebo, is available for the most creative ideas.

Once the £10 loans have been returned at the end of the competition, participants can either keep their profits to develop their business idea further or donate them to a good cause.

Peter Jones said: “Make Your Mark with a Tenner empowers young people to make their ideas happen. We know that young people are increasingly concerned about the challenges society faces, and we’re aiming to show young people that by acting on an enterprising idea, it is possible to make money and a real difference.

“Make Your Mark with a Tenner harnesses the unrivalled energy and creativity of young people. Their fantastic achievements increase each year that we run it, proof that if you trust young people to act entrepreneurially they will rise to the challenge. I encourage every school and college in the North East to sign up to this, our biggest year to date.”

Schools and colleges in the North East have until February 11 to register students to take part in Make Your Mark with a Tenner. Application forms are available at http://www.enterpriseuk.org/tenner

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .