Teenagers walked off with £10,000 in prize money after dreaming up three business ideas.

Sixth formers at Brighton College were tasked, Apprentice-style, with coming up with viable plans for a product that would make money if given seed funding.

The pupils worked in school houses to brainstorm ideas and then competed in heats to try and make the grand final which was judged by local entrepreneurs including Microscooter co-founder and managing director Philippa Gogarty.

The three winning teams wowed the judges with their innovative thinking.

One created an app that advertises last minute gig tickets at reduced prices, another a website that matched hard-up, time-rich students with time-poor parents and families who need jobs doing such as babysitting and tutoring while a third came up with a stylish bracelet that doubled as a rape alarm and emergency money holder for women.

Each team will receive £3,333 to kick start their business plans and try to bring their idea to market.

Head of business studies at Brighton College Sally Woodmansey said: “There were actually some amazing ideas that the girls and boys came up with and it is heart-breaking that only three teams can win.

“But their ideas were really exceptional and not only that but they managed to put together incredibly professional pitches that showed a real working knowledge of how to present to investors.”

The competition was developed after headteacher Richard Cairns noticed that school children were not being given the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial side.