A Scottish company that failed to conquer television’s Dragons’ Den is looking to flourish in the real world – by handing over the reins to pupils in Scottish schools.
The business partners behind Dunfermline-based Tree of Knowledge, which supplies motivational educational materials and training, have been deluged with e-mails, CVs and orders for their products after their unsuccessful bid for funds on the programme aired last week.
Despite declining to offer the firm the £100,000 they were requesting, the five millionaire “dragon” investors lavished praise on managing director Gavin Oattes and director Alan Burton for the confidence of the pitch and the success of their existing business.
Now the firm is relying on some of its customers – secondary pupils from across Scotland – to take forward their business in a new initiative, called TOK Apprentice.
For eight weeks, schools will take over promotion and put on a training event for local companies, giving pupils a grounding in real-world enterprise skills while they help to grow the Tree of Knowledge business.
Any profit schools make by putting on events will be theirs to keep, the company says.
Launched just before schools broke up for the summer, TOK Apprentice already has three schools signed up – St Ambrose High in Coatbridge, Cardinal Newman High in Bellshill, and Earlston High in the Borders – which will kick off the initiative on Tuesday, August 24.
John Clarke, depute head teacher at Earlston High, said pupils at the school had been using TOK products and training for six years, so he was keen to get involved in the new project.
“Pupils will be working with business partners in the local area, getting experiences they wouldn’t generally have,” he said. “The company benefits by getting their wares shared with more companies without direct selling.”
Sixth-year pupils at the school are already planning the project, and with enterprise education an increasingly important part of the curriculum they will benefit from working for a real, live business, Mr Clarke said.
“It is a great project for the kids and it is bold of Tree of Knowledge. It is their own reputation on the line.”
Mr Oattes said he and his colleagues were excited about the new venture. “We will help pupils create a sales pitch and a business plan, find clients and build positive working relationships with local businesses. Meanwhile they are going to be responsible for helping make our company profitable. It fits the Curriculum for Excellence to a tee.”
l A Scottish entrepreneur who has designed a game to fight fat is to pitch it on Dragons’ Den tonight. The interactive fitness game, developed by Livingston-based Ralf Klinnert, is aimed at tackling obesity in children. It involves running between sets of flashing cones, and Mr Klinnert says it could also be used by professional athletes.
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