Ref:ALTPR016Date: 12 July 2016

Altecnic dragon supports Staffordshire students

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A market leader in the supply of precision heating and plumbing components has been helping to inspire the next generation of business leaders by sponsoring a competition based on the popular television show, Dragons' Den.

Lesley Bateman, HR Manager at Stafford-based Altecnic, was also amongst the ‘Dragons' offering advice and expertise to students at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) as they pitched their business ideas.

Stafford-based Altecnic has sponsored the Dragons' Lair competition for the past seven years as part of an ongoing commitment to supporting the local community and young people across the region.

Alan Sherwin, the company's Managing Director, explained: "As a major Staffordshire employer Altecnic recognises that young people from local schools will become the workforce of the future and will be key to our own long-term success.

"We were delighted to be involved with this exciting competition which really gives young people the chance to explore their business ideas, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit."

Other Dragons in the lair included Kerry Bonfiglio-Bains, Managing Director at Appointments Personnel, Martin Langhorn at Barclays Bank, Sonia Clewlow, Managing Director at Purple Cow Training, Sheila Weightman at Breast Cancer UK and Louise Ziemann, Sports Centre Manager at The Gordon Banks Sports Centre.

They were asked to critique business proposals put forward by the students, scoring them on their business idea, pitch, market research and forecasted income. They then had to select a winning team who received the prize of £70 each to help launch their business idea.

The winning team was ‘Treasure Chest', who proposed opening a toy shop selling educational toys for children and in second place was ‘The Bunker', who put forward the idea of launching an indoor paintballing arena to overcome the problem of games being postponed due to bad weather.

Lesley Bateman added: "The quality of the business ideas we heard on the day was fantastic and all the students who took part worked hard to convince us they were capable of putting their plans into action. I'm confident that there are plenty of young entrepreneurs out there and it was great to be able to offer them some useful advice and an insight into the business world."

Caption:

‘Dragons' and students line up at Newcastle-under-Lyme College 

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Editor's Notes

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About Altecnic

Established near Stafford, Altecnic works closely with its manufacturing partner, Caleffi, to continually develop a diverse high quality, precision heating and plumbing product range that is constantly evolving in anticipation of new regulations and market trends. As a result the company's products and servicesare chosen by trade merchants, original equipment manufacturers, plumbing and heating engineers and specifiers.

The first business in its industry to be aCarbonNeutral® company, Altecnic is also proud to be ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and 18001:2007 certified.

Media contact:

Martin Farrow

Changeworks Communications
Tel:  + 44 (0) 1785 247588

Mob +44 (0)7771 970025

Email: mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk

Company Contact:

Scott Bullock
Marketing Manager
Altecnic Ltd
Mustang Drive, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 1GW, UK
Tel:+44(0)1785 218227 | Fax:+44 (0)1785 218205
scott.bullock@altecnic.co.uk |www.altecnic.co.uk

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN HOSPICE NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Douglas Macmillan Hospiceprovides specialist palliative care for adults across North Staffordshire and surrounding areas who face cancer and other life-limiting illnesses

2. Care is provided at the Hospice and in people's homes across the community.

3. The Hospice is independent (it receives no funding from any national charity) and has no association with any organisation bearing the same or a similar name.

4. It will cost over £11 million in 2016 to run and develop the full range of services for the Hospice. More than 3/4 of money comes from local voluntary donations.

For quotes and comments on behalf of Douglas Macmillan Hospice, contact in the first instance the Director of Income Generation, Karen McKenzie on 01782 344300.

facebook.com/dmhospice @dougiemacstoke