PUBLISHED 13 November 2019
Will this year's teams maintain our outstanding track record in this national competition? They need your help!
This year's AKS Tycoon in Schools teams follow in some incredibly successful footsteps, indeed for the past 4 years a group from AKS has topped the national leader board for return on investment. Business plans have been approved and loans from the Peter Jones Foundation have been received. Perhaps trickier and nerve wracking has been the Dragons Den style presentations to the Ladies Luncheon club, where they must pitch their business ideas to a panel. The keen-eyed panel offer invaluable advice, a good old-fashioned grilling and a superb opportunity to trade at their Christmas meeting. Their help has been a key feature of the Tycoons calendar and is always warmly appreciated.
“Stichintimes” is an ambitious partnership with the charity Just Good Friends. This superb local charity aims to battle loneliness in the community and the students hope to learn stitching skills by making Christmas stockings and Christmas stocking craft kits with the help of members of the local elderly community. Social Angels, a social group for autistic children set up by Abbie have also attended a business meeting as they like the idea so much they are joining in with the concept and producing craft goods with materials supplied by Stitchintimes. Naturally, all profits will go back to JGF and Social Angels.
https://www.facebook.com/stitchintimeaks/
http://justgoodfriends.org.uk/
The “Scented Snowman Co.” makes charming snowmen made from slices of branches and then infuses the finished product with Christmas essential oils. They have also tested outdoor versions and hope to develop these soon. Their chosen charity is Brian House children's hospice and the group are aiming to run a craft workshop at the day centre in Trinity Hospice. Tycoons has had an especially close affinity to these local hospices with over £4100 being donated in the past 2 years. Donations of dry branches and logs will be greatly received!
https://www.facebook.com/scented.snowmen.5
https://mobile.twitter.com/ScentedSnowmen
“Idozi” will be creating unique earrings using left over or waste materials from the fancy glass industry. They have also produced earrings decorated with glass beads and a fine range of upcycled jewellery. Their initial designs have received great reviews. Their charity is Prostate Cancer and a local charity, Children Today, which provides sports equipment for disabled children in Blackpool.
https://www.facebook.com/idozijewellery/?ref=py_c
As you can tell, the charity dimension is an important theme of 'AKS Tycoons', and every year it is heartwarming to hear the passion and connection our students have for them. Many have already made their first sales – a memorable moment for any of the Tycoons. They have also started to problem-solve, organise logistics and source materials. As this half term continues the fine art of setting up a trade stand quickly, spotting opportunities and persuading the public to buy their products are incredibly useful life skills. If you see them at a school event please take the time to go and see them, I predict you won't go away empty handed.
Graeme McIntyre, Head of Business Education