Dragons’ Den event hosted for 60 young entrepreneurs

More than 60 young entrepreneurs from seven Edinburgh schools attended a Dragons’ Den event hosted by pension provider Aegon at their offices in South Gyle along with Social Enterprise Academy.

The young teams from both primary and secondary schools impressed the Dragons with their social enterprise initiatives, products, and their presentation of business plans.

Kaimes Kooks from Kaimes School in the south east of Edinburgh won the top award. This group is a school Social Enterprise launched in 2022, which sells pre-weighed ingredients packs in Kaimes Kooks bags.

The Dragons said they 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 going to Extra Soapy Bubbles (ESB) from Queensferry High School Enhanced Support Base (ESB). Their pitch, complete with a dancing pig to promote their craft made soap products, had the dragons captivated.

Chief Dragon and Chief Executive of Aegon UK Mike Holiday-Williams 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.”