News release

9 December 2016
Ten weeks in: Dragons Apprentice hits 6k
After just ten weeks*, the seven teams involved in The Welwyn Hatfield Dragons
Apprentice Challenge have already raised an impressive 6,000 for their charities.
Some of the teams have already smashed the original target which was to turn
100 into 1,000.
Fundraising activities have so far ranged from selling holly wreaths at the WGC
Christmas Lights Switch-On to holding a quiz night in the school sports hall: all the
teams are trying frantically to find the best profit-making activities (see notes for
more info).
Councillor Bernard Sarson, Executive Member for Business, said: The amount of
money raised by the teams so far is staggering! In just over two months, they have
all shown a huge amount of resourcefulness and entrepreneurship. Im delighted
for them and also their partner charities, for whom this money will do so much.
We wont reveal too much at this early stage about who might win the challenge
except to say one of the teams is on 1,500!
Last month, all the teams submitted their business plan to Dragons HQ which
included information about the events theyre staging throughout the challenge.
Then, in March, its Judgement Day when all the teams descend on Barclays HQ
in Canary Wharf, London, for an intense grilling from the Super Dragons.
This years Super Dragons are: Barclays Joanne Price; Sir Roy Gardner,
Chairman of Serco; Terry Mitchinson, former editor of the Welwyn Hatfield Times;
and Robin Webb, Chief Executive of St Lukes Hospice.

To follow the teams progress, follow @Dragonappwelhat on Twitter.

*challenge commenced, Thursday 6 October

ENDS/PR/16/129

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6AE
Tel: 01707 357271
Email: media@welhat.gov.uk

Notes to editors

Now in its fifth year, the Dragons Apprentice Challenge raised 26,000 last year alone for
local charities and community groups and has raised over 40,000 since it began.

The Oaklands College DAC team sold Christmas wreaths at the WGC Christmas Lights
Switch On. Theyve also been running tuck shops in college. [not on Twitter]

The Monks Walk School DAC team has been selling bags for life and trolley tokens. They
also attended the WGC Christmas Lights event. [not on Twitter]

The Chancellors School DAC team attended the Hatfield Christmas Lights Switch-On and
sold sweets, biscuits and popcorn. They also offered the chance to have your picture taken
with a Minion. Follow them on Twitter @chancedragons

The Bishops Hatfield Girls School DAC team, Team Falcon, has been selling donuts,
cakes and refreshments at school and elsewhere. They were at the WGC Christmas Lights
Switch On, for example. 16 December, they also held a film night. Follow them on Twitter
@TeamFalcon

Stanborough Schools DAC team, Build a Future, also attended the Hatfield Christmas
Lights Switch-On and held a chocolate tombola. They also attended the Hatfield Festive
Market on 10 December ran a Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar competition; sold
raffle tickets. Follow them on Twitter @Builda_Future

The Sir Frederic Osborn School DAC team, SFO Dragons, held a Christmas raffle at the
WGC Christmas Lights Switch-On. They also raised 100 at a Halloween cake sale. They
attended a Panshanger Christmas Fair on 26 November. They also plan to do a quiz night.
Follow them on Twitter @sfodragons

The Onslow St Audreys DAC team, Team Renaissance, held a quiz night in November
and hope to hold another one in February. Before that, they were selling baubles. Follow
them on Twitter @onslowdragons

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6AE
Tel: 01707 357271
Email: media@welhat.gov.uk