Students design Oxford shops in ‘Dragon’s Den’ competition

The ‘Made in Oxfordshire’ challenge invited teams to reimagine the future of retail by creating immersive, community-focused destinations.

Pupils are tasked with developing original concepts for community spaces before pitching them to a panel.

This year’s winning team came from John Mason School, who impressed judges with ‘Brainwave’ – a concept for a charity café and arcade aimed at supporting young people and reducing social isolation.

Clare Martin, acting centre director at Westgate Oxford, said: “The Made in Oxfordshire project offers young students the chance to explore their creativity and come up with fresh and exciting ideas within the retail sector.

“The future generation present new perspectives and valuable insights into retail experiences that reflect their needs and resonate with their audience.”

Year 10 students from Greyfriars Catholic School, Oxford Spires Academy and John Mason School took part in workshops at Westgate Oxford.

These sessions covered creative placemaking, community and customer insights and environmental sustainability, helping pupils translate their ideas into practical, community-focused concepts.

The final round took place at Curzon Cinema in Westgate Oxford, where students pitched their ideas in a professional setting complete with mood boards and customer research.

Ms Martin added: “We’re proud to continue our strong relationship with Ahead Partnership, having now empowered over 10,000 young people through our collaborative projects.

“The Oxford competition gives students a space to produce an original concept, develop it into a design and then pitch it to professionals, enhancing their confidence and providing them with skills and knowledge to help boost them in their future endeavours.”

The competition is delivered by Westgate Oxford in partnership with Landsec and Ahead Partnership, and is funded by the £20 million Landsec Futures Fund, which aims to create positive social impact in the communities it serves.

Andy Clarke, head of partnerships at Ahead Partnership, said: “Nothing brings careers and skills education to life quite like stepping in to real workplaces and meeting role models face to face.

“The Made in Oxfordshire Challenge demonstrates the power of immersive, interactive experiences to ignite curiosity, broaden horizons and inspire young people to explore career paths they may never have considered.

“Our long-standing partnership with Westgate Oxford and its parent company, Landsec, has enabled us to connect thousands of young people with role models across retail, the built environment, and beyond.”

John Mason School will now go on to compete in a national final.