BUDDING entrepreneurs last night celebrated the end of a six-month project which has raised almost £35,000 for charity.

Six teams of Hertfordshire students gathered at the University of Hertfordshire to mark the 2012 Dragons' Apprentice scheme.

The initiative gives 25 teams the opportunity to use their business skills to turn £100 into anything over £1,000, and the money raised is donated to charity.

Yesterday evening the winning team, Athena from Loreto College, was announced. They raised £3,006 for St Albans City Youth. The total raised by all teams was £34,606.

David Wray, community leader at St Albans City Youth, said: "It was brilliant to see the Loreto girls coming together as a team for the benefit of our charity.

"We worked really closely with the school team, supporting and helping each other. For example the Athena girls baked cakes for one of our events and we sent in three teams to support their quiz night."

The 25 teams of students from 13 Hertfordshire schools began the Dragons' Apprentice scheme in September last year, with the help of their 'dragons' advising teams on budgeting and planning to marketing.