Print entrepreneurs to appear on Dragons' Den

Willsow books are completely biodegradable
Willsow books are completely biodegradable

An entrepreneurial young printer is set to make a pitch on Dragons’ Den this week.

Tom Willday, managing director of Willday Printers in Leicester, is set to appear on the BBC show tomorrow evening (20 May) alongside his business partner James Coulthurst. 

The duo will be pitching for a £20,000 investment to help expand their Willsow business, which makes children’s books made from plantable seeded paper. 

Printweek featured Willday’s success in developing the brand earlier this year – including securing a spot at the prestigious Project Earth showcase put together by high-end retailer Selfridges – as well as at a number of garden centres.

The books aim to engage children through the story, and subsequently with planting and growing things using the book's pages. 

Dragons’ Den airs at 8pm on BBC1, on Thursday 20 May. 

Willday Printers, originally Alfred Willday & Son, is based close to Leicester city centre. The firm was incorporated in 1945 and is a fourth-generation family-owned business. 

Last year Talking Print founder and managing director David Hyams pitched his Talkies personalised video cards to the dragons, but came away emtpy-handed.