You could have been mistaken for thinking you’d stumbled onto the set of Alan Sugar’s The Apprentice as pupils from The Charles Dickens school in Broadstairs set up as entrepreneurs and faced the challenge of posing as competing catering companies and putting in a bid to cater for a Social Club function.

Supported with financial advice and guidance from John Kirk, business manager from NatWest in Margate, 180 Year 10 students divided into groups to tender for the contract, planning and designing menus, as well as the supply and serving of the food, before being judged on their ability to present and deliver a project on time and to budget.

The activities were part of NatWest MoneySense for Schools, a national programme set up by the bank to develop business and financial skills among young people.

Mr Kirk said: “We’ve had a fantastic time and I have been really impressed with the creativity and business acumen the young people have shown. It’s been great to see the team work displayed by the members of the different 'companies’ and to watch their self-confidence grow as the day went on. The importance of financial capability for young people cannot be underestimated as it’s essential that they are equipped with the skills and confidence required to make decisions in adult life.”

Neil Webster, deputy head teacher at the Charles Dickens School, said: “This has been a great activity, which the young people have really enjoyed. It’s very important that they gain basic money management skills and have the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial and creative abilities. This activity was an extremely practical and fun way of doing this and brought alive what happens in real life. We can’t thank John Kirk and NatWest enough for making such a wonderful programme available to our pupils and for coming along to help us deliver it.”

Since its launch in 1994, thousands of schools in England and Wales have been involved in the programme. NatWest staff, including John Kirk, have been involved in the delivery, making it the largest financial education programme in the UK.

Real life examples and online and interactive activities, video clips and activity sheets bring the programme to life and today helped pupils learn the steps involved in setting up and running a business, including the basics of business planning and understanding the importance of marketing in running a successful business.

Any schools or colleges wanting to find out more about the MoneySense programme, how to get the FREE materials or how to get the support of a NatWest member of staff, should contact NatWest MoneySense Coach, Sandra Latter on 07795302100 or visit the MoneySense website at www.natwest.com/moneysense.