BUDDING entrepreneurs at a Darwen school have been given investment from Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones.

Five teams of pupils from Darwen Aldridge Community Academy received £3,284.99 between them to set up a business model pitched to the star’s team.

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Each business received a different amount up to £1,000 from Mr Jones based on their costings and start-up requirements.

The national Tycoons in Schools contest which is a free enterprise contest that gives young people the chance to run their own business.

Each team will be looking for support from the community as they trade over the next seven weeks in school and in newsagents across the town.

Assistant head teacher Michelle Billington said she is extremely proud of all her pupils for independently taking on a real-world challenge.

She said: “It’s absolutely amazing to get this investment from someone as prestigious as Peter, who I have to admit is great with the children, despite how mean he can seem on Dragons’ Den.

“They have done everything by themselves like costing, making all the orders, working out any financial issues, which is very impressive.

“I am really proud of them and they are really excited and want to get to the final because it’s at Buckingham Palace in front of Prince Andrew and Peter.

“We want the students to have these experiences of the real world and not just have a teacher telling them stuff at a desk.”

If one of DACA’s business makes it to the final, they will receive £1,000 of investment from Mr Jones.

One business is being run by sixth formers and is an events management company called Divine Events focusing on entertainment for young people in the town.

This will include the organisation of events such as cinema trips, discos and festivals.

Other projects are being run by children in Year Eight and include Community Kids which focused on creating calendars of landmarks in the borough.

Other businesses include Studio BB3, Upcyclers 4 Life and Wise Words, where students are producing inspirational plaques and frames.

The final will take place in February next year.