Talks on taking the Dragons’ Apprentice national

Debenhams Ottaway hosted a meeting of leading local business professionals to brainstorm the next steps for taking the very successful St Albans Dragons’ Apprentice nationwide. The session was attended by many members of the Chiltons Communications Group, Trustees of the CVS and other people involved in the Dragons’ Apprentice.

Debenhams Ottaway has been a huge supporter of this initiative since it began 6 years ago. The Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge inspires young people to succeed in business. The initiative involves a local business person (the Dragon) mentoring a team of local year 12 students (the Apprentices) to make money through developing their entrepreneurial skills, giving them a taste of what making a living on their own account is all about.

As well as providing a Dragon Debenhams Ottaway has also given pro bono advice on rolling the scheme out to other parts of Hertfordshire and elsewhere in the UK.

Debenhams Ottaway partner and former Dragon, Luke Harrison, comments “The Dragons‘ Apprentice not only raises significant sums for good causes but also provides students with an excellent grounding in entrepreneurship, something that is very difficult to learn in a classroom. There is a tremendous amount of support and interest to help develop the challenge, and it is an exciting time to see how this initiative grows.”