Pupils from the Meadows Montessori school in Ipswich have been named among the winners in the Fiver Challenge, run by the Young Enterprise programme.

Teams or individual pupils from primary schools across the UK were invited to use £5 to set up a mini-business and make a profit.

A team from the Meadows, The Flower Pot Men, sold plants and vegetable seedlings at a local bakery, a farmers’ market and from outside pupils’ homes, with the additional aim of highlighting healthy eating.

Having made an initial profit they then branched out into selling flowers and by the end of the initiative had made £360, which they have donated towards a bench to go in the school’s new garden.

Their efforts won them the Best Community Engagement award for nine to 11-year-olds and they were presented with their certficate at the Five Challenge Awards ceremony at the Ham Yard Hotel in central London.

Michael Mercieca, chief executive of Young Enterprise, said: “The Fiver Challenge is a great way for pupils to start developing important financial capability skills, as well as introducing them to the world of business in a fun, interactive way.

“The Flower Pot Men have done extremely well, and their success proves you don’t need a large amount of capital to make a profit.”

Spencer, one of the member’s of The Flower Pot Men, said: “My favourite part of the experience was the fact that after we did well, everyone else now wants to do the Fiver Challenge next year.”

Jo Barnett, head of social enterprise at Virgin Money, which supports the Fiver Challenge, added: “It’s great to see the creative business ideas pupils have come up with on this year’s Fiver Challenge, and seeing how much they have learned on the scheme.

“Pupils from the Meadows Montessori school beat off stiff competition and I congratulate them on their win.”