Pet treat pupils are in business

Pupils at a Newark school are hoping for success in a national business competition.

The team of youngsters at Mount CofE Primary School set up Paws For Thought, a company selling homemade, healthy snacks for dogs, cats and rabbits.

They are taking part in the 2017 Tycoon In Schools competition and are running the business for seven weeks —the trading phase closes on December 15.

Teacher Dawn Kelly said: “We decided to concentrate on the pet market after asking our whole school for ideas about what type of business we could start this year.

“They came up with lots of different ideas, but the main theme running through them all was pets.

“We got our heads together and decided that, although there were lots of treats for pets in shops and supermarkets, they were all made by large pet food companies so we thought about making our own homemade healthy snacks.

“We asked pet owners what they saw as important in a treat and, as a result, decided to make oat flour-based treats for dogs as we understand that many dogs are now showing signs of gluten intolerance.”

The company’s cat treats are also made of oat flour and contain tuna and catnip.

The rabbit treats, baked using fresh banana and carrot, have a short shelf-life and are made to order.

In addition, one of the business tycoons, Jlya Cehovskis, 9, is making novelty soap in the shape of pets for their owners.

Kaylin Ainscough, 9, and Kyian Banner, 10, are in charge of finances, Arnas Jurgelevicius, 10, is overseeing production of the treats and Jykla is managing the soap production.

Cameron Cutt, 11, has produced sales and marketing literature, including labelling, for the products.

Weronika Ostrowska, 9, and Cooper Price, 11, check the quality of the products before they leave school premises.

Stalls at Christmas markets

The tycoons have been joined by willing helpers, who are helping to produce the treats and soaps.

They make the treats two afternoons a week in the after-school kitchen at the Mount and package and market them with a little help from parents and teachers.

The treats are priced £2.50 per pack or £9 for four packs. The soaps are £2 per pack.

They are available online via local buying and selling websites, on the school blog and website, in the coffee shop at Newark parish Church, and in dog grooming and training businesses.

Paws For Thought will also have stalls at Christmas markets this month.

“We are hoping that many of our mums and dads will buy some for their pets and friends,” said Dawn.

Orders can also be placed by emailing pawsforthought@mount.notts.sch.uk

Tycoon In Schools was set up by entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones. The free competition offers children the opportunity to run their own business.

Loans of up to £100 for primary school children and £1,000 for secondary school children, to help put their entrepreneurial ideas into practice.

The idea is to give them real-life experience of working together, trading and making a profit.

Any profits can be reinvested in the businesses, given to their schools or donated to charity.

The competition finalists will be announced next year and invited to an awards ceremony.

The winners will receive £1,000 to be invested in their business.