Future Business Magnates is a business planning competition for Year 8 pupils from secondary schools across County Durham. This showcase is an introduction to the brilliant business ideas developed by the young people.
Vote for your favourite idea and help inspire the next generation of business leaders!
Park View School
The Guardian is a wearable piece of safety technology that takes the form of a pendant. The pendant is made to encourage those who have fears and barriers about using their high-street, to be empowered to get back out there and feel safe. By clicking the pendant's personal emergency button, the wearer can alert a member of staff in a shop, a loved one or even emergency services. Any vulnerable or elderly users can use this device to stay connected and always have a safe and secure experience on their high-street.
North Durham Academy
The Sensory Hub is a creative space designed by students, local design experts and educational professionals, to provide an inclusive destination for the entire community, to increase the number of visitors on the high street, reimagining it for everyone to visit and enjoy. We have a café and play area as well as some activity and sensory spaces available, to be used by people across all generations, to enable them to thrive. We also have a range of bookable events taking place, throughout the week, to engage everyone in the local community and can be found on our ‘Activity Menu’. Visit ‘The Sensory Hub’ stall in Beamish Museum on 21st May 2025 and support your local town. By clicking on our QR code you will be able to let us know that you want us to reimagine your high street too!!
St. John's Catholic School and Sixth Form
A café funhouse for the whole family to enjoy.
King James I Academy
The Royal Experience is more than just a cafe - we're a community hub at the heart of Bishop Auckland's revival. We provide up-to-date information on local events, activities, and what's happening in town and offer products from local businesses while you sit and have a cuppa.
Wolsingham School
The Glowing Gecko in Consett, County Durham is a lively food hub featuring diverse food stalls run by small, independent businesses. It’s a starting place for independent food businesses to grow before opening their own locations, our goal is to help small businesses to start their journey, whilst also helping the local community. We are doing this by ensuring all of the produce used at our stalls is sustainable and locally produced as well as making the prices for business owners to buy stalls in our night market as low as possible.
Durham High School
The Box is a flexible, community-powered space designed to bring life back to the High Street. From creative workshops to music nights, it's a place where everyone belongs.
Bishop Barrington
Say Hello to Melo – The Future of Shopping! Melo is our amazing retail robot designed to make shopping smarter, faster, and way more fun! From giving outfit suggestions using laser eye tech, to carrying your bags, speaking different languages, and even helping you shop from home; Melo really does it all. It’s like having your own personal shopper, security guard, and best friend rolled into one! We’re Team M.E.L.O.N. a group of excited Year 8 students from Bishop Auckland, taking part in the Future Business Magnates competition. Our name stands for Many Entrepreneurs Learning Organisational Needs, and we believe business should be smart, friendly, and fun – just like Melo (and us!). We’ve worked super hard, learned loads about the business world, and had so much fun creating Melo. Now we need YOUR vote to help us win! Be Smart. Be Friendly. Be FutureReady. Be Melon! Vote for Melo – and Team M.E.L.O.N.!
Barnard Castle School
We’re school children from Barnard Castle and we’ve created an app idea called Scan Around to help our local high street. Shoppers use it like a loyalty card – they scan it in stores to collect points and get rewards like discounts. We want to make shopping in town more fun and help keep our high street busy, so please vote for us!
Durham Johnston
In a multi-cultural city such as Durham, we want to showcase the best there is of international cuisine! Our flavours, traditional music and artwork will fill your senses – we ask you to take a seat, soak in the culture and enjoy a World Heritage site backdrop whilst you learn a little more about the origins of our cuisine and its source country. First up the Dutch delight of “olykoeks” which made their way to NYC! It’s not just food – it’s an education.
