Economics/Business: Dragons’ Den with Alison Stiles, Programme Director for the Accounting and Business degree, Henley Business School

In this fun, interactive Dragons’ Den event, students will engage in evaluating and challenging an entrepreneur’s business plan, applying relevant background knowledge and developing critical thinking skills.

Alison Stiles, Programme Director for the Accounting and Business degree at the Henley Business School, will play the part of an entrepreneur whilst Schools play the ‘Dragons’. Dragons will prepare questions and challenges for the entrepreneur and decide whether or not to invest in the project. Students will get feedback on the quality of their questions and challenges and learn more about successful ‘appreneurs’. The session will cover business plans, company funding, cash flow & profitability, business structures and entrepreneurship.

Session Objectives:

• Enhance participants’ understanding of the different elements of a business plan (funding, ownership, marketing, production, logistics, financials, exit strategy)

• Develop participants’ critical thinking skills through their questioning of the information presented to them

Session Outline/Format:

•Welcome, intros, objectives

•Leader gives session outline

•Session leader takes role of appreneur & gives a pitch to ‘Dragons’

•Schools prepare questions / challenges

•Schools ask questions & appreneur responds

•Schools vote yes / no on investing in app

•Session leader feeds back to schools

•Thanks & close

Session Leader Biography: Alison Stiles

Suitable for: Year 12s studying Economics or Business.

Preparation/Pre-reading: None required, although students might like to watch an episode of BBC 2’s Dragons’ Den to get an idea of the concept if they are unaware of it.