Each primary school confidently presented their business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges with every team member having a defined role - designer, researcher, marketer or finance manager - showing a real-world understanding of how businesses operate.

The teams provided detailed financial breakdowns, explaining the cost of producing their product and how much they would sell it for with some schools even producing TV adverts to further promote their ideas.

The three Dragons on the day were:

• Dr Chris Tomlinson – CEO of Co-op Academies Trust
• Dave Chapman – Partnerships Manager at Manchester United Foundation
• Tanya Burch – Ceremonial Mayor of Salford

Fred the Red, Manchester United’s official mascot, also made a special appearance and even took part in a dance-off with students during the break. 

The creativity on display was outstanding. Business ideas ranged from tech-driven sports gear to comfort-focused inventions.

After much deliberation, the Dragons chose Freeze on Wheels as the winning idea. The product - a portable cooling system for food and drinks - was praised for its practicality and potential impact on everyday life.

Adele Howarth, Manchester United Foundation Officer and event organiser, said: “This is the third year I have hosted this event at Co-op academy Swinton and the standard of each school increases each year.

“This year was the best yet with more prize donations and a fantastic panel of ‘Dragons’ as judges.

“The feedback we received from staff and pupils was nothing short of amazing. Staff really like the fact this is such a fun, exciting event but also like the cross-curricular links in maths and English the pupils have throughout the journey leading up to the final.” 

CEO of Co-op Academies Trust, Dr Chris Tomlinson, said: "The standard of ideas was phenomenal. It was tough to decide. I asked for innovation, creativity and confidence, and I’ve seen all of those. There were some really incredible pitches and ideas."

Dave Chapman, Partnerships Manager at Manchester United Foundation, added: "I know a lot of hard work and effort has gone into these pitches - a huge well done. It’s not easy to stand up and present in front of people, and every team smashed it."

The winning team took home an impressive set of prizes, including a Manchester United medal and a Co-op medal, a stadium tour of Old Trafford and a £15 Amazon voucher for each team member.

All the ideas pitched:

• Bebeto Cantona Cleaning Machine – A machine that cleans all types of footwear, not just football boots.
• Smart Football Glasses – Glasses that display live player stats while watching a match.
• Senso Net – A football net that captures photos and videos when a goal is scored, complete with crowd noises.
• Freeze on Wheels – A mobile cooling system to keep food and drinks fresh on the go.
• Cooler Caps – Specially designed caps with inserts to keep the wearer warm or cool.
• Inflatablow – Compact, inflatable stadium pillows that adjust for comfort and temperature using an app.
• Manchester United Prize Draw – A special raffle for season ticket holders, with prizes like meeting players and signed merchandise.
• Red Devil Recovery Chair – A heated and cooled chair designed to help injured athletes recover faster.