AN 18-YEAR-OLD business student has won an online competition run by one of the businessmen on Dragons’ Den.

Maisie Dennis, who runs her own business selling handmade scrunchies, was recently named as a winner in the long-running Small Business Sunday competition, run by Theo Paphitis.

Small Business Sunday is a competition allowing entrepreneurs to enter via Twitter by tweeting why they want their small business to be chosen.

Maisie entered on Sunday, telling Theo about her business and on Monday night at 8pm, Maisie, along with five other small businesses, were announced as winners in a tweet from him. His tweet was shared to his nearly 500,000 followers.

Theo Paphitis’s Small Business Sunday competition has been running for 10 years this year and during that time over 400,000 people have entered, with around 1 per cent of those winning.

Winners become part of a supportive small business community, with access to experienced sponsors, advice, and attendance at an annual event.

Maisie said: “I set up my business in January 2019 and I never thought it would grow as much as it has. I can’t wait to go to Birmingham next year to collect my award from Theo.

“I am so thankful for how the competition has helped me and my business.”

Hannah Murphy, business lecturer at Andover College, said: “I am extremely proud of the entrepreneurial and business acumen Maisie has shown in creating this business.

“Whilst she is not hoping for a career in business, this truly shows how dedicated she is to pursue opportunities when they arise.”

The competition has already helped build Maisie’s brand by getting her more followers and she can now put a badge on her website and social media to show she was a winner.

Maisie has been invited to Theo’s annual networking event in Birmingham early next year, where she will get to network, meet Theo in person and collect her well-deserved certificate.

You can find out more and Maisie’s work by searching

You can support Maisie or follow her work by searching the handle ‘@LScrunchieCo’ on Twitter or ‘TheLittleScrunchieCo’ on Etsy.