BUDDING entrepreneurs from Trafford primary schools took part in a Dragons' Den style event organised by St. Antony's Catholic College in Urmston.

The Year 5 students were taking part in a transition exercise to make them familiar with work in secondary school and were tasked with designing, marketing and selling a Manchester Bee Christmas tree decoration.

The teams came from six primary schools in the borough: English Martyrs, St. Alphonsus', St. Hugh's, St. Monica's, St. Teresa's and Our Lady of the Rosary.

Paul Giblin, deputy head at St. Antony’s and one of the dragons, said: "Today's children seem to have an ever more sophisticated view of business and commerce, and the youngsters were eager to learn more and show they have the business brains to succeed in what will be an increasingly competitive world."

Each team appointed a managing director, sales director, production director and marketing director as they discovered that making a living is as much about perspiration as inspiration.

Commenting on the exercise, Lucius Covell, aged nine, from St. Teresa's, said: “If you ask good questions, you'll get intelligent answers. I think it's all about attention to detail.

“I enjoyed the marketing,”said Sophia Bingham, nine, from Our Lady of the Rosary, “learning about advertising, publicity, banners and posters.”

Young businesswoman Megan Broom, nine, from St. Hugh's, added: “You have to get the right price, enough to make a profit but low enough so people can afford to buy.”

Mr Giblin said: “As automation continues to eat up traditional jobs, the youngest generation will have to adapt to a world which rewards initiative, enterprise and originality as well as hard work.

"We want the boys and girls who will come to this school to know that it is cool to be clever and to think for yourself.”