Students at Bradford College will take the plunge into a new exercise to develop their business skills next week.

The three-day programme will involve more than 100 students aged 16 to 18 from across college departments.

It will include a Dragon’s Den-style event during which teams of students will pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts from local businesses in the hope of winning £100 cash prizes. The event, at Bradford College’s Westbrook Building on Great Horton Road, will focus on narrowing the gap between education and the workplace.

The college is working in conjunction with The Working Knowledge Group, a Cambridge-based organisation that specialises in such events, to host ‘The Plunge’.

It will see groups of sixth-form, business, computing and science students taking part in workshops about money, sales and marketing and people and operations.

The teams will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges from local businesses including Yorkshire Building Society, Business Link, Phoenix, Rude, Green PR, C8 and The Works Recruitment.

Tony Laycock, Bradford College Sixth Form Centre programme manager, said: “We hope that this competition introduces our students to the realities of business and strategic objectives, and will highlight the importance of being able to think and present on your feet as a team.

“The Plunge is an excellent tool for budding entrepreneurs and a proven programme that delivers engaging activities and events.

“We are using the three-day event to promote self-confidence and raise aspirations, improve team working and networking, negotiation and communication skills and provide a clear understanding of business.”

Students who complete The Plunge will receive a ‘working with others’ qualification.

Mr Laycock said it was hoped that the event would encourage students to continue their studies into a second year.