A team of young entrepreneurs from St Albans Girls’ School have been crowned the winners of a county-wide competition to turn £100 into £1,000 for a chosen charity.

Teams of Year 12 students from schools across St Albans and Harpenden succeeded in raising more than £13,000 for charities in the area in this year’s Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge.

The Dragons’ Apprentice initiative is county-wide and gives students taking part the opportunity to put their business skills into practice.

Back in September they were given a £100 investment to come up with a business plan and ideas and make £1,000 or more for their designated charities, with the help of mentors.

The teams then presented what they had achieved at a final pitch event hosted by the University of Hertfordshire on Monday night.

Team Cohesion from St Albans Girls School were crowned overall winners and presented £1,683 to The Abbeyfield Society.

The team of seven girls earned the money by organising a range of events, including a joint school disco with Verulam School, a senior citizens Christmas party and a quiz night.

Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Salih Gaygusuz, praised the scheme, now in its seventh year, which started in St Albans and now reaches out across Hertfordshire.

He said: “The Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge develops vital business skills and promotes the importance of organisation and teamwork, while raising money for local charities.

“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.”

In addition to the overall winners, other awards were presented on the night.

Team Affinity, also from St Albans Girls’ School, won the trophy for earning the most money – with a staggering total of £3,921 for Royal National Institute of Blind People.

The award for closest co-operation with their charity was won by Team Illusion from Sir John Lawes School in Harpenden for its work with carers in Hertfordshire.

The most innovative team was named as Team Chic from Oaklands College in St Albans for overcoming adversity and running three events in six weeks to raise money for St Albans & District Talking Newspaper.

The Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge is owned by the Centre for Voluntary Service and was created in St Albans.

Penny Mortimer, who pioneered and has driven the growth of the challenge, said: “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.

“There’s little doubt these are the young people who’ll go on to excel in their future careers.”