DESERVING students have come second place in a national business competition organised by TV entrepreneur Peter Jones.

Twelve students from The Marist School in Sunninghill, entered the competition as Team Serenity and proposed a business idea surrounding the theme of Mental Health Awareness week.

The Tycoon Enterprise Competition saw 389 business teams battle it out to come up with the idea and demonstrate strong enterprise capabilities and 'solid financial results'.

Team Serenity had the idea of selling soft blankets, infused with lavender which is designed to reduce levels of anxiety and stress.

The business successfully generated a revenue of £1,500 with 70 per cent of all profits donated to the mental health charity Mind.

Charlotte F, member of Team Serenity, said: "Back in September, I could never have imagined that our company would have raised £1,500 of revenue, built awareness of mental health issues and learnt so much in just a few weeks.

"If you have not taken part in Tycoon, you just do not realise what a sense of achievement and empowerment you get - it is an experience I would thoroughly recommend."

An awards ceremony was held at Buckingham Palace were the girls had the opportunity to discuss their business plans with Peter Jones CBE and HRH The Duke of York KG, Patron of the Peter Jones foundation.

Eileen Mullan, business and economics teacher, said: "We are delighted to celebrate Serenity's success in this year's Tycoon Enterprise Competition.

"This is the first year, as a school, that we have entered the competition and it has been wonderful to see the students grow in confidence and experience the journey of starting a business venture.

"The Tycoon Enterprise Competition truly compliments the curriculum by offering practical life skills to our students."