PRIMARY school pupils were introduced to the basics of running a business at a special enterprise day.

Children in Year 5 at Mile Oak Primary School in Brighton were treated to a school day with a difference.

The Business in a Box session provided pupils with a toolkit of basic business principles, and was packaged into a series of The Apprentice style tasks and challenges.

The session was delivered by Albion in the Community (AITC), the official charity of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and backed by American Express.

Amex colleagues helped small teams of budding entrepreneurs create a business and produce a product – a bar of soap – with the potential to be a Christmas gift best-seller.

Each team of pupils was tasked with deciding on individual roles, creating a company name and logo, identifying a target market and looking into costs and profit margins, as well as branding, design and packaging.

Teams also prepared a marketing campaign with posters, flyers, a website page and TV and radio adverts.

Students then delivered a business pitch to a panel of judges.

Frazer Simpkins, curriculum development officer at AITC, said: “This is one of a number of curriculum days we offer schools across Sussex, held at their school or the Amex Stadium.

“These enrichment days are a great way to build pupils’ confidence, presentation skills and business acumen, while having fun and working as a team.

“It’s encouraging to see what the pupils can achieve in one day.

“As an added bonus the pupils get to take away their products to gift to family members or friends over the festive season.”

Beverly Sawyers, vice president at American Express, said: “There are a number of Business in a Box Enterprise days supported by Amex colleagues through the year.

“It’s a great way to share commercial insights into the world of work and help introduce pupils at an early age to valuable life skills such as communication, resilience and team work. We were very impressed by their creativity, enthusiasm and engagement throughout the day.”

Any school interested in taking part next year should contact AITC on schools@albioninthecommunity.org.uk.