Danielle Clementina Close, a former Malvern College pupil and founder of the sustainable skincare brand My Skin Feels, secured £50,000 of investment from Deborah Meaden and Gary Neville on the BBC show.

She said skills developed at the independent school played a crucial role in her confidence and ability to pitch.

Ms Close said: “Speech and drama lessons at school did make a difference in terms of my overall confidence.

“I really enjoyed it, felt prepared for the challenge and not at all nervous.

“It worked out very well for me and the opportunity to raise the profile of my work in that setting is invaluable.”

My Skin Feels uses natural and organic ingredients including by-products from the food and drink industry that would otherwise go to waste.

During her appearance on Dragons’ Den, Ms Close delivered a pitch that impressed all five investors, with Peter Jones describing her as “everything you want to invest in” and Steven Bartlett saying she was a really good storyteller.

She ultimately chose Ms Meaden and Mr Neville, following a tough negotiation.

Former Malvern College pupil Danielle Close founded My Skin Feels (Image: Rous)

Ms Close, who previously worked for Charlotte Tilbury, has urged young people to embrace opportunities to develop soft skills, especially in pitching and communication.

She also called on teachers to promote a wider range of career options beyond traditional academic routes.

Now based in Brighton, she described entrepreneurship as “extremely hard work” but said she was proud of what she had achieved.

Ms Close said: “My Skin Feels was inspired out of a love of listening to your mind and your body so you can make better decisions for yourself, those around you and the planet.”

She hopes to return to Malvern College in the future to share her experiences with current pupils.

Keith Metcalfe, headmaster at Malvern College, said the school was delighted by her success and proud of her appearance on national television.

Mr Metcalfe said: “I would very much agree with Danielle’s advice when it comes to taking every opportunity at school to develop skills that will serve you well in your future career plans.

“I also believe it’s important for schools to evolve as the workplace changes to ensure they are consistently providing the education, support and valuable guidance needed to adapt to a changing careers landscape and give youngsters the skills they need to forge their own path to success.”