Budding entrepreneurs across the north and north-east are vying for a national title in the final of a prestigious enterprise competition this week.
The Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) Festival of Youth Enterprise takes place at Hampden tomorrow and Wednesday, and top of the bill is the YES company of the year award.
The annual competition gives fifth and sixth year secondary school pupils across Scotland practical experience of running a business by taking them through the steps needed to set up a social enterprise.They decide on a product, develop it, devise a business plan and then market and sell their goods and services to customers.
Regional finalists from across the country will find out who takes the top honour, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, on Wednesday.
Pupils from Northfield Academy in Aberdeen will be representing Grampian. The youngsters established Lite – a social enterprise which aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health through selling a range of clothes and accessories.
Young people from Anderson High School in Lerwick are hoping their social enterprise, Shetland Gift Co, which promotes the work of local artists and photographers through Shetland-themed cards and giftware – can win them the title.
Kirkwall Grammar School pupils will represent Orkney with their social enterprise, Estrela, which sells a series of colour changing lamps inspired by local landmarks.
Pupils from Plockton High School, trading under the name Bamboozled, will be there to fly the flag for the Highlands and Moray. They designed, produced and sold a range of household products made from bamboo.
JJ Island Crafts from Stornoway’s Nicholson Institute will be representing the Western Isles, with their made-to-order Harris Tweed products.
YES chief executive Geoff Leask said: “The company programme continues to be one of our most successful secondary school activities and we are thrilled with the number of entries and the quality of the work that we have seen this year.
“The programme provides young people with an invaluable enterprise experience, and with a wide and diverse range of transferrable skills, which stands them in great stead for the future.”