Last night, the winner of the Welwyn Hatfield Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge was announced at an awards ceremony at Gosling Park’s Collingwood Suite – marking the end of the five-month-long challenge.

 

Teams of sixth form students were tasked with turning £100 into £1,000 or more for their nominated charities with the help of local business ‘Dragons’.

 

Now in its fourth year, the Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge raised £18,844.67 this year alone for local charities and community groups and more than £60,000 since it began.

 

This year’s Super Dragons picked the winners for the awards. They are: Barclays’ Joanne Price; Terry Mitchinson, former editor of the Welwyn Hatfield Times; Councillor Bernard Sarson, who stood in for, Sir Roy Gardner, who was unable to attend; and Adam Richardson, ‎Managing Director at Craft & Cleaver Ltd.

 

The overall challenge winner was Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School.

 

The other winners were:

 

•           Most money earned: Onslow St Audrey’s School

•           Most innovative product: Chancellor’s School

•           Close co-operation: Stanborough School

•           Best communication: Oaklands College

 

Councillor Bernard Sarson, Executive Member for Business, Partnerships and Public Health, said: “I would firstly like to say a huge well done to all the teams who took part, the amount of money raised is fantastic and I know that all of the charities and community groups benefiting will be especially pleased.

 

“I would also like to say a big thank you to all of the businesses and charities that have been involved, and finally, to all of the Dragons for giving up their time and sharing their wealth of knowledge with the apprentices. 

 

“This challenge is a great way of helping so many young people to develop their skills and use them to benefit the local community.”

 

The council works in partnership with local business Red Potato to deliver the programme in the borough.

 

 

A summary of each school’steam’s activities:

 

Bishop’s: Christmas lights switch on, bake sale, disco, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Christmas film night and pub quiz

 

Chancellor’s: Hatfield Halloween Fest 2016, year 7 Christmas party, restaurant takeover (their grand event), Valentine’s Day themed cake sale, Local Primary school Christmas Fete

 

Oaklands: tuck shop, sponsored raffle, sold Christmas wreaths at Christmas Lights Switch, Sponsored ‘Going Bald’, sold handmade Valentines hampers

 

Onslow: quiz night, Halloween Stall at the Galleria, Christmas Stall and Santa’s Grotto at the Galleria, Bouncy Castle and Stall at the Galleria, year 7 disco

 

Monk’s Walk: bag packing, Krispy crème donut sale, games stall at open evening, sold Bag for Life & HAD trolley coin key rings, Santa Photo Shop and teddy bear hunt

 

Sir Fred’s: Christmas Lights Switch On, bag packing, quiz night, non-uniform day

 

Stanborough: Christmas Lights Switch On, bake sale at Paypoint, Starbucks coffee stall, Local Primary school Christmas Fetes, Ware Dickensian evening, tuck shop, sold valentines roses.

Well done to everyone involved.