SIDMOUTH College Year 10 pupils met a world record-breaking polar explorer as part of an Enterprise Day at the school last week. Ann Daniels, who holds the world record as part of the first all-women s team to ski to the north and south poles, spoke to Bu

SIDMOUTH College Year 10 pupils met a world record-breaking polar explorer as part of an Enterprise Day at the school last week.

Ann Daniels, who holds the world record as part of the first all-women's team to ski to the north and south poles, spoke to Business Studies and Leisure and Tourism students at the school last Friday.

The aim of the day was to give the GCSE students an insight into forming their own business.

Dressed in office attire, they were split into groups and had to come up with a business plan for an explorer clothing company.

Ann, who will soon be travelling to the Arctic to take part in a £4 million international programme to measure the polar ice cap, said: "I got involved with these talks because children are our future and if they work hard and believe in themselves they can achieve their own dreams.

"It gives them real tools and motivates them so they can see how to start their own business."

Ann gave a slide show presentation showing the harsh reality of being a polar explorer and the type of clothing needed for temperatures reaching as low as -52c.

Roy Leach from Business Navigators, a business management firm, co-ordinated the event.

He said: "The enterprise event helps students to understand how to set up and run their own business

"What we found is they really enjoy the day as it's different to a normal school day.

"It makes it real for them as it's not learning out of a book, but is practical."

Sue Hurley, head of work related learning at the school, said: "It was superb. The groups worked extremely well as teams.

"They were enthusiastic, committed, motivated and even worked through their lunchtime."

At the end of the day, a panel of judges comprising of Ann, Roy, Helen Presto, a business studies teacher and Pete Bond, network administrator at the school, selected the best business.

The winning team was Adrenaline, which included Sadie Newman, Katie Lowe, Alex Martin, Charlotte Lye, Penny Morling and Ella Morrish.

Students will be presented with individual prizes at an Enterprise celebration assembly on Wednesday.