STUDENTS from the borough attended a glittering ceremony and rubbed shoulders with William Hague MP, and Theo Paphitis from hit TV show Dragon s Den. A group of 16 and 17-year-old business pupils involved with Barking and Dagenham s bursary scheme were

STUDENTS from the borough attended a glittering ceremony and rubbed shoulders with William Hague MP, and Theo Paphitis from hit TV show 'Dragon's Den.'

A group of 16 and 17-year-old business pupils involved with Barking and Dagenham's bursary scheme were guests at the Growing Business Awards.

The A-list business world event, which has never been attended by students before, was held on Thursday, November 27 in Grosvenor Square.

Robert Clack enterprise advisor, Phil Tierney, said: "We were the only table with students present and the likes of William Hague and Theo Paphitis made a point of coming over and speaking to them.

"They commented on what a talented and confident group of young people we have."

Gary Jarrett, Business Bursary co-ordinator said: "It has given our business bursary students a real opportunity to see at first-hand the entrepreneurs and business leaders in the UK.

"These students are a real credit to Barking and Dagenham and themselves."

The pupils who attended were Carl Larkin, Dami Akinwale, Dionne Akoto, Felistas Komo, Iesha Cooper, Karishma Bhandari, Lyandra Diaz, Matthew Dance, Michael Agyeman and Priscila Gonzaga.