29th July 2010

Eight year old entrepreneur, Connor Pickering, from Nuneaton, asked his Dad for a business loan of £15, created a business plan, sat down with his Head Teacher, Mr Smart, explained how it would work and successful business, C&G Biscuits was created.
 
Each Monday break time Connor set up his tuck shop and over the next six weeks managed to raise £150 with a lot of support from his fellow school friends and from all the staff at the school who strongly encourage the Young Business and Enterprise scheme.
 
Determined Connor is in year four at Stockingford, Junior School in Nuneaton and raised £150 for local charity, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance through selling biscuits, cakes and drinks at his school. He was even given the nick name Connor Sugar after he fired two friends and became angry when he didn’t meet his sales targets.
 
Connor’s business plan detailed his simple strategy which was to hold a tuck shop for 15 minutes every Monday break time selling a selection of cakes, sweets, biscuits and drinks all costing between 10p and 20p. Mr Smart gave then gave Connor the go ahead and C&G Biscuits was created. Business minded Connor even altered his stock to reflect trends in the market, decorating biscuits with England flags when we all tuned into the World Cup.
 
Dad, Gareth said, “Connor gave us a list of everything he needed to set up his business and we donated his first set of stock and he went on from there. Mr Smart encourages the idea of enterprise throughout the school which is really positive. This real life experience gives children the opportunity to start their own business and learn real life skills. It is a great idea.”
 
Connor, who wants to be a wynchman on a helicopter or ice cream van owner when he grows up, decided to support Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance after watching the crew in action on the television. He was intrigued by how the Charity saves lives and how it was funded.
 
Connor recently visited the base, saw the famous helicopter and presented the cheque to crew. He said, “It was really good to see the helicopter it was a lot bigger than I expected. I am pleased that I made £150 for Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, they are great and save lives.”
 
 “Connor is a very lovely, kind and caring young man who loves to do things to help others and with his school giving him this brilliant opportunity he is going from strength to strength. We are so very proud of him and all that he has achieved. It is amazing.” Gareth concluded.
 
For more information please log onto www.wnaa.co.uk

Supplied with image
L to R - 8 year old Connor, with brother 4 year old Daniel and 6 year old sister Shannon.
Crew- L to R – Pilot Richard Craske, Dr Neil Thomson, and Paramedic, Sophie Birt.

~ENDS~
For more information please contact
Kit Edwards
PR & Communications Manager, 
DD: 08454 130982/ mobile: 07545426035
 
 
Notes to Editors:

• WNAA is a registered charity, which receives no funding from the Lottery or Government and it costs the charity over £1.5million a year to keep the vital service operational and saving lives.
• WNAA uses an Agusta 109 Power; with a cruise speed just short of 200mph, the fastest civilian helicopter available.
• Enabling WNAA to quickly provide vital medical care on the scene often meaning the difference between life and death.
• The aircraft has the capability for a rapid start and shut-down sequence and can be airborne in about 45 seconds where some services can take around two minutes to warm up and the same to shut down.
• The crew provide intensive care to patients on scene and during flight.
• Rapidly responding to emergency 999 calls saving people who live, work or travel through our regions and beyond when needed.
• Currently serving a population of 1.2 million people across 2,200 square miles of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.
• The additional skills of the crew can bring the hospital emergency department to the accident scene. e.g. normally a patient would only benefit from advanced analgesia and Anaesthetics in the A&E department, we have the skill set and resources to manage the patient on scene, for example, given a patient with an acute head trauma and suspected brain injury, we can manage the patient in an advanced manner, by Anaesthetising on scene, we control the patients environment by managing airway, controlling blood pressure and adequately oxygenating the brain. This is only one example where early intervention can make the difference between life and death.