ENTREPRENEURIAL children from Wherwell Primary School showed off their business skills when they were challenged to Make £5 Grow.

The idea behind the the Virgin Money initiative Make £5 Grow is to give school children aged nine to 11 years old a real-life experience of starting a mini business.

David Hall from Virgin Money worked with Class 5 children to develop their business ideas then each child took out a £5 personal loan to invest in their business.

Ideas included baking bread, pizzas and all sorts of cakes, designing and making jewellery and key rings, cars were washed, school woodland logs were sold and handmade cards and stationery were available as were drinks and ice pops.

The Year 6 children were even paid to take an extra exam to help researchers develop future papers.

After five ‘mini markets’ and learning life skills such as perseverance, flexibility, communication, co-operation and positive thinking, the pupils managed to raise a grand total of £1,115.93.

All profits from the money raised are now paying for all the Year 6 children to spend two days sailing and having fun at Southampton Water Activities Centre.

David Hall said: “Working with Wherwell Primary School has been a real pleasure.

“The results show we have some real budding entrepreneurs in Hampshire.

“Nationwide almost 10,000 children have now taken part in Make £5 Grow and we look forward to supporting more schools in the Andover area next term.”