EMPLOYERS were invited to invest in innovative new student business ventures during a series of Dragons’ Den style presentations.

Enterprising Business students at South Cheshire College pitched their business proposals to representatives from the local business community after working on them for one of their course units.

Students produced a business plan alongside their business proposals and 18 out of a total of 75 students had their ideas endorsed at presentations in the College boardroom.

Company representatives which voted on the best business ideas included Jamie Stewart from Momentum Factor UK and Phil Taylor from The Alextra Group.

These BTEC Level 3 Business students will now carry their ideas forward and develop them ahead of a college Business Exhibition in January.

Business experts will be invited to the January event and a winning idea will be selected using votes which are equivalent to specific amounts of cash.

Students learnt how to put forward proposals for new business ventures and have gained a better insight into the business world during the project which is part of their ‘Starting a Small Business’ unit.

Claire Finney, business lecturer at South Cheshire College, said: “Students have all worked exceptionally hard on their business ideas and put forward some excellent proposals to employers.

“A total of 18 students have now been selected to take their ideas to the next level and showcase them at the Business Exhibition in January, before overall winners for the most innovative idea are crowned.”

Dragons’ Den is a BBC TV series in which budding entrepreneurs get three minutes to pitch their business ideas to five multi-millionaires willing to invest their own cash.

Business courses equip students with the skills and business acumen they need for successful careers.

Claire added: “We are very grateful to employers who supported this first round of presentations and students are benefiting greatly from their support throughout this process.”

For more information about business courses at South Cheshire College, please call 01270 654654 or visit scc.ac.uk.