Dragon’s Den star and Sir David Jason amongst judging panel at House of Lords Semi-final
March 2008
An annual date now for the House of Lords are the Semi-finals for the Wings of Hope Achievement Awards. This year’s judging panel was as star studded as ever. Sir David Jason, joined us back again to be chief panellist, probing students about their creative and sometimes crazy fundraising projects. Deborah Meaden from the BBC’s Dragon’s Den sat alongside Sir David this year. Deborah did not leave her Den qualities behind, as she listened intently and subsequently asked about different teams’ ideas, execution and finance-keeping.
25 teams were shortlisted to attend the Semi-finals – students from all over the country came down to Westminster, to revel in their achievement, and pitch to some incredible luminaries.
By the end of the judging, Deborah said that she was utterly confused as the standard of entry was so high. “I’d probably hire a few of them in a couple of years, if I could – their pitches were excellent.”
The other judging panel were fantastic too, with BBC news presenter, Nisha Pillai, CEO of JCPR, Jackie Cooper, the Vice-Chair of Saatchi and Saatchi, Peter Lovatt Lords McNally and Dholakia, Baroness Scott and many more. Find out more about the panel.
The event was covered by The Evening Standard, SecEd Magazine, and Third Sector magazine
