Spotlight on young business boffins from Inverness and Black Isle; Fortrose Academy pupils emerge triumphant

SOME of the top entrepreneurs of the future have been recognised at the Highland and Moray regional finals of the Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme.

Budding business leaders from schools in Inverness and the Black Isle collected accolades at the event in the city’s Ironworks.

Fortrose Academy’s Vision collected the Highland and Moray company of the year title, just head of Bee Fired of Inverness High School.

Vision was recognised for expertise in designing, producing and selling its own children’s book about endangered animals.

Bee Fired was involved in the design, production and marketing of its nature-inspired ceramics.

Vision was highly commended in the best trade stand section – a category won by Bee Fired – and highly commended for the production and development award.

Taking the top prize qualifies Vision to represent Highland and Moray at the Scottish finals in June.

Bee Fired won the achievement through adversity gong, and the team’s Kloe Ross collected the pioneering leadership award.

Culloden Academy’s Bound also claimed its share of the spotlight with its bilingual Polish/English children’s book earning it the innovation award.

The Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme for Highland and Moray runs in partnership with local schools to encourage young people to experience the challenges of running a business.

Over the course of a year teams from individual schools learn how to run a successful business by designing and making products, marketing them and managing the financial side.

The scheme is aimed at 15 to 19-year-olds and teams are supported by teachers, a volunteer business adviser from the local community, and a Young Enterprise Scotland area team.

Linda Thomas, chairwoman of Young Enterprise Scotland Highland and Moray said: "Once again our judges were overwhelmed by the creativity, hard work and tenacity shown by all the students who took part in this year’s programme.

"Every single person who took part rose to the challenge and produced amazing results. They are all amazing ambassadors for our area.

"With the huge challenges young people face when looking for jobs the experience gained on the Young Enterprise company programme is invaluable.

"We see all the students who take part in the programme grow in confidence over the year and as they learn about working as a team, they find creative solutions to problems and learn to respond to change. This is all great preparation for the world of work."

Over the past five years more than 670 young people have taken part, creating 61 companies. Up to one third of the schools in Highland and Moray have had a team taking part in the programme in any one year.

Other winners were teams from Forres Academy, Mallaig High School and Speyside High School. Individual prizes also went to young entrepreneurs from Forres Academy, Speyside High School and Kinlochleven High School.

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