A GROUP of budding entrepreneurs at an Ipswich primary school are today celebrating raising a “staggering” £600 for charity.

Starting out with a mere £10 to their names, the Dale Hall Primary school pupils were set a challenge by Ian Johnson, a parent and businessman in October.

The year six students, taking part in the school’s Business Enterprise Scheme sponsored by Select Office Furniture, were divided into 10 teams of six, with one nominated the team manager.

The Apprentice-style challenge saw the youngsters think up their own business, name it and choose the product or service they were going to offer.

Each group were given a loan of £10 – the challenge to make the biggest profit possible to donate to Cancer Research UK, in six weeks.

Before getting started the pupils had to present their business plan to Mr Johnson, in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to get the final nod and the money firmly in their hands.

Laura Goodfellow, a year six teacher at the school said the pupils spent time in and out of school buying their resources, making their products and collecting goods to be sold at two big sales they organised.

She told The Star: “Some of the children held their own mini sales but we held a big sale just before Christmas.

“Children and parents could buy from all 10 businesses.

“The children made a staggering profit of £647.”

She said each “business” then had to give a short presentation to parents, a panel of teachers, headteacher Alison Beckett and Mr Johnson.

“The children were assessed on a number of criteria including team work, leadership and profit,” she added.

“Each group had to select a charity which they would like the money to go to, if they won.

“All the teams were extremely successful and the final decision was a difficult one.”

Impressed by the high standards set by the youngsters, Mr Johnson awarded each child a medal.

The judges picked Bits and Bobs as their final winners and the group chose Cancer Research UK as the recipient of the profits.