Business students from five leading Moroccan universities pitched their business ideas to a panel of would-be investors in a Dragons’ Den style show down in front of a packed audience in central Reading. The event was hosted by Reading College and marked the end of the annual month-long programme of English, Business and Enterprise the college delivers to MBA students on sabbatical from their universities in Morocco. 

The panel  of ‘dragons’ comprised successful local entrepreneurs and business professionals who took the students through their paces in a challenging question and answer session following their business plan presentations.  Frederick Young, founding director of Global Education Management Ltd:  “I was very impressed by the innovative ideas put forward in the Dragons’ Den event last Friday; especially as the students’ first language is not English and they only had one month to prepare. I congratulate Reading College on their innovative approach to international education.”
 
Innovative business ideas presented by the twelve teams of young entrepreneurs ranged from opening a Hammam Spa in Reading to the design and production of an electric coffee mug. Moroccan culture and traditions featured as a common theme throughout the pitches and the winning team’s business idea was to develop and distribute organic Moroccan skin care products in the UK.
 
Assistant Principal Julia Rees:  “The Dragon’s Den was not only a really enjoyable event for the Moroccan MBA students, but the challenge was an excellent way to develop their entrepreneurial thinking and improve their spoken and written English skills.”
 
Reading College provides mainstream and bespoke English and vocational courses to international students. From September 2012 higher education courses will be run Reading College including a Foundation Degree in Business and Enterprise accredited by Oxford Brookes University.

The Dragons, left to right
Councellor Maurice Monk, hotel group Proprietor, Miriam Braham, Director of Marketing and Customer Services Reading College, Frederick Young, Founding Director of Global Education Management Ltd,  John Amery, Proprietor of Picnic Foods.

Student Zineb El Farissi pits her wits against the dragons