Budding entrepreneurs have been crowned champions in a challenge to support charities.

The Elegantly Enterprising team from Yavneh College won the Hertsmere Dragons Apprentice Challenge in their bid to support Carers in Hertfordshire.

The scheme takes students in year 12 and asks them to raise as much money for their charity through a new business venture.

The teams are given £100 seed money and a ‘dragon’ from a local company to give them guidance in their venture.

Under the mentoring of Jonathan Lipitch from Jonathan Lipitch Consulting the Elegantly Enterprising team took home the title for raising the most money and for their strong relationship with the charity.

They presented the Carers of Hertfordshire with a cheque for £1,184.68 on Tuesday.

The contest kicked off in October at the Metro Bank, Theobald Street as the students were challenged to use their entrepreneurial flair to develop the business.

Stephen Craker, Chief Executive of Community Hertsmere said: “The Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge is a great way of helping young people to develop their skills and use them to benefit the local community.

“The students gain confidence, learn about their strengths and limitations and what it takes to succeed under the expert and enthusiastic mentorship of their local business Dragons.

“This has been a particularly challenging year for the young Apprentices. Those who completed the Challenge are to be admired and congratulated for their tenacity, inspiration and hard work. All meetings, planning, events and marketing take place in their own time, on top of a heavy schedule of schoolwork and other activities.”

Community Hertsmere who run the event are launching the Junior Dragon’s Apprentice for primary schools for younger children to get involved.

Any schools or businesses in Hertsmere interested in taking part in next year’s challenge should contact events@communityhertsmere.org.uk.

The deadline for schools is Friday, July 21 and the deadline for businesses is Friday, August 18.