A TEENAGER from Chigwell has become one of the first people to graduate from a specialist business school set up by a Dragons Den star.

Lisa-Marie Organ, 17, of Burrow Close, Chigwell, was handed her BTEC Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship by TV entrepreneur Peter Jones, himself, when she graduated from the National Enterprise Academy (NEA) in Buckinghamshire.

She said: “It's more in-depth than what you get on a normal business course. There's nothing else like it out there- you get so many opportunities.

“I went straight from school. My told me about it because she'd heard about it on Radio 1. I wanted to prove myself, because none of my family had gone on to higher education and wanted to be different and see something through.

“I always found it interesting. It's a really good course and I'd recommend it to anyone.”

The NEA was set up in September 2009 to offer entrepreneurial master classes to people keen to get into the world of business.

It offers practical lessons away from the classroom and in the boardroom as well as advice and guidance from established entrepreneurs and business people.

With her new qualification, Lisa-Marie hopes to one day set up her own business just like Peter Jones.

“If I become as successful as him I'd like to give something back to people as he's done,” she said.

“I've got an interview next Thursday with a printing company in London and want to go out and work. Than hopefully I'll have enough money and experience to set up my first business.”

To find out more about the NEA visit thenea.org.