A FALCONER has gained £50,000 for her business after doing battle with Britain’s most famous dragons.
Layla Bennett, 26, who owns Hawksdrift Falconry based near Builth Wells, appeared on the popular BBC entrepreneurs show Dragons Den on Monday.
She pitched for £50,000, for a 25 per cent stake in her business, which turned over £72,000 last year.
Layla presented her pitch while holding her Gyr falcon, Monty, and both Theo Paphitis and Deborah Meaden took the chance to hold the bird of prey.
Leisure tycoon Duncan Bannatyne took up her proposal and sealed a deal for 25 per cent of the business.
“I am going to offer you exactly what you have asked for, £50,000 for 25 per cent of the company, because I don’t think anyone should try and drive a hard bargain with you because I think what you are offering is very good value,” he said.
Layla revealed she was delighted with the way the show had gone particularly because she had secured the offer from her favourite dragon and had got through the pitch without making an ‘idiot’ of herself.
“I was ever so pleased at the programme and the way it turned out,” she said. “It’s a very strange experience seeing yourself on TV.”
Layla says the money will be used to build a new aviary to breed pairs of the birds, employ a full-time member of staff and allow her to carry out more extensive marketing.