A TEAM of aspiring entrepreneurs from Cann Bridge School – a specialist provision school for students with learning difficulties and complex additional needs – have been confirmed runners up in the national enterprise competition Tycoon in Schools.

The group heard the result at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, which was attended by nine teams of finalists and the competition founder, Peter Jones CBE.

They impressed with their company, We Cann Do Gifts, which made a substantial profit by selling novelty Christmas jumpers for wine bottles during the festive season.

Team member Chandan Stockman, 17, said: “We are very proud of our trophy and were very excited to go to Buckingham Palace. It was a great competition and it was nice to get to know the other groups and see the ideas that they had for business as well. There were some things that we thought we would like to try at our school.”

Since its launch in 2012, a single team has won Tycoon in Schools each year. However, in a surprise announcement by the Dragon’s Den star during the ceremony, it emerged that three companies would share this year’s top spot – each collecting £1,000 investment.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Jones said: “I was delighted to announce the winners of Tycoon in Schools at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace this afternoon with HRH The Duke of York, KG, Patron of The Peter Jones Foundation.

“The standard was so high this year that we decided to crown not one, but three winners. All of the teams have worked so hard and I have been bowled over by their enthusiasm and achievements throughout the competition. With thousands of students taking part, it has been the most successful Tycoon in Schools yet.

“Retrocycle, Ethical Print and Mount were the teams that really stood out to all the judges. They all excelled in each area of the judging criteria, came up with some incredibly innovative ideas, worked excellently as a team and generated some incredible profits.

“I wish the teams the very best of luck and encourage them all to continue to develop their businesses – you never know how far your ideas can go. I urge all young, budding entrepreneurs to get involved in Tycoon in Schools 2015.”

Tycoon in Schools challenges schoolchildren from all over the UK to develop their own real-life businesses.

After pitching an idea to their teachers, they receive a loan of up to £1,000 from the Peter Jones Foundation to get their companies up and running.

They then raise as much profit as possible during a seven-week trading period, before submitting a final evaluation report to a panel chaired by Mr Jones himself.

The judges consider profitability, teamwork, business concept, sustainability and community engagement.

Cann Bridge Deputy Head Teacher Wendy Fisher said: “We have been so impressed by the life skills that the students learned and the level of independence that they showed. They have learned to work together as a team and that jobs can be divided up and everyone can play their part.”

Tycoon in Schools is part of the Peter Jones Foundation’s work to put enterprise at the heart of the education system.

Schools can register their interest for the 2015 competition by visiting www.tycooninschools.com.