Crayford school wins business award from Dragon's Den star Peter Jones (From News Shopper)

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Academy wins business award from Dragon's Den star Peter Jones

5:00pm Tuesday 11th December 2012 in Bexley By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

BUDDING entrepreneurs from a Crayford school have won a national award for coming up with a money-spinning wheeze.

Students from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Academy were praised by ‘Dragon’s Den’ star Peter Jones CBE for winning a special award as part of nationwide enterprise competition Tycoon in Schools.

The HACA team of 17 students with an average age of 12 decided to design, make and sell laser cut plastic jewellery and accessories built around popular images and words.

In just four weeks they managed to increase their money almost 13 times by making a profit of £1,845.18 using a loan of just £144.22 from the Peter Jones Foundation.

Mr Jones, a telecoms tycoon and star of the hit BBC series, said: "I thought the products they created were of a fantastic quality and people would be astounded that students of this age could produce something so professional.

"The standard of their products were as good as any company trading out there in the real world."

HACA Design Technology teacher Natalie Stevens added: "They have really worked beyond their years to achieve something fantastic."