Boothroyd youngsters grill Dragons’ Den survivor

Liz Colleran, of Gomersal firm Duvalay, spent the day with pupils at Dewsbury’s Boothroyd Primary Academy, assisting in their investigation of business and innovation.

Having secured an £80,000 investment for Duvalay’s portable and domestic memory-foam and memory-fibre bedding products from Hilary Devey, star of BBC 2’s Dragons’ Den, Liz was well placed to talk to the youngsters about aspirations, careers and business.

Liz said: “It was a privilege and so much fun to take part in the children’s focus on business. They were a fabulous audience, and their ideas, responses and questions were really imaginative.

“It is fabulous to think that these young people will be forging their own careers in the coming years, and I was delighted to give them an insight into what my company has been able to achieve. I hope we were able to inspire some aspiring business people to advance business throughout our local community and beyond.”

Liz was accompanied by her son Declan Colleran, who, aged just 18, has moved on from the wheelie bin cleaning company he founded at 14-years-old, and is now running his own business, DC Ground and Tree Care. Currently in part-time education, training as a tree surgeon at York’s Askam Bryan College, Declan spoke to the children about business planning and the importance of aiming high.

Liz continued: “The children were particularly impressed with Declan’s range of power tools and really related to his story, subjecting him to a Dragons’ Den style grilling!”

Boothroyd Primary Academy principal, Kyrstie Joslin, added: "It was wonderful to have local businesses come into our academy and inspire young minds to achieve great things."

For more information, contact Duvalay, on 01274 877 200

Find out more about Duvalay at:"http://www.duvalay.co.uk

Find out more about Boothroyd Primary Academy at: www.boothroydprimaryacademy.co.uk

Find out more about DC Ground Care at:"http://www.dcgroundtreecare.co.uk