Students are hoping to impress in a business challenge to raise money for St Francis Hospice.

The second Match Challenge will start this month and will include teams from local schools starting ventures and aiming to raise as much money as possible.

The winners of the first challenge, which concluded in March, were a group called Design with Dignity from Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School, Upminster. They sold personalised gifts and made a profit of £3,083.

The winners were announced at an event at Leyton Orient Football Club last week. Team leader Rebecca Northwood said: “Each member of the team had qualities which shone through during the competition. It was a big effort but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

This year’s challenge includes 18 teams from seven schools. Those in Havering include Drapers Academy, in Harold Hill, and Emerson Park Academy, in Hornchurch.

They will each receive a start-up fund of £250 from sponsor and mentor Barry Hearn and will have six months to run their business and make as much profit as possible for the hospice.