Hackney students triumph in Dragons’ Den-style charity contest

Victorious: the team poses with its hard-earned trophy. Photograph: Mosiac London

A team of budding entrepreneurs from Skinners’ Academy in Woodberry Downs fended off strong competition to win last week’s London final of the 2017 Enterprise Challenge.

The pupils’ successful idea was YouTe@ch, a video sharing platform for schools which engages students in revision and future careers.

The teenagers had to pitch their concept to a panel of investment executives and retail experts in a contest organised by mentoring charity Mosaic, which is part of The Prince’s Trust.

The inventive youngsters now advance to the grand finals on 17 May, where they will compete for the national title and the chance to win £2,500 for their school, as well as £500 to help make their idea a reality.

Previous winners of the Enterprise Challenge have been invited for tea at 10 Downing Street and enjoyed a unique tour of Clarence House.

Celebration: the pupils are looking forward to the grand finals in May. Photograph: Mosaic London

Team YouTe@ch features 14-year-olds Salise Buldu, Yaw Opoku and Ionut Tiplea, and 15-year-olds Sezen Gungor and Briana Williams. They said: “Mosaic has taught us teamwork, dedication and determination. Hard work and practice really does pay off.

“We’re looking forward to the grand finals and potentially developing our idea into a feasible business which will support schools and our community.”

The pupils had already beaten stiff competition from hundreds of students across the country to reach the regional final, where they pipped schools from Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Waltham Forest to the trophy.

Mosaic regional manager Robyn Brown said: “Team YouTe@ch wowed the judges with their brilliant idea but I have to say that the standard of all the teams was extremely high.

“I am very proud that London is home to so many brilliant young minds and I’m certain many will go on to be our business leaders of the future.

“A special thank you must go to our team of volunteer mentors who give up their time to coach, support and inspire the pupils taking part.”

Mosaic was founded by Prince Charles in 2007 to help young people from deprived communities realise their potential.

Volunteers from professional backgrounds deliver its mentoring programmes in primary schools, secondary schools and prisons.

For more information about Mosaic’s work, please visit the charity’s website here