Theo Paphitis, star of Dragon’s Den and multi-millionaire, was given a lesson in animation by Barking and Dagenham College students yesterday.

He and MP Matthew Hancock, the skills and enterprise minister, were at the Gherkin in the City of London launching The Skills Show, an national event taking place in November to inspire young people to search for the right career.

Presenting at the show were animation degree students Joseph O’Connor, 19, and Phillip Newberry, 21, who brought along their tools to give others a taste of their skills.

First up was Theo who used animation software to create a scenario involving a shark and a space buggy, before the minister came along and created his own.

Phillip, who is currently in his third year, said: “It was good to see such well recognised business icons having a go at something new. A lot of people haven’t yet discovered what their skill is and by coming along to a have a go they get to try something they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to.”