Ross-shire schools collect accolades for their business ideas at the Highland final of Young Enterprise Scotland awards with Fortrose Academy and Alness Academy making mark
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A Black Isle school has cleaned up at the Highland and Moray finals of the Young Enterprise Scotland company competition by re-purposing old washing machines as fire pits.
Fortrose Academy's Revive team, who came up with the novel use for unwanted washing machine drums, will now go on to represent the Highlands and Moray at the national Young Enterprise Scotland finals in June after collecting half a dozen awards at the regional heat held at the Ironworks venue in Inverness, including best overall company of the year.
However, the final of this year's competition – which encourages 15 to 19-year old secondary pupils to set up and finance their own business and sell products or services to the public – was not as keenly contested as usual.
The impact of Covid saw just four teams making their presentations at the live final. They were Fortrose's Revive, Alness Academy's Eco Essences, and two teams from Gordonstoun School near Elgin, Molive and Scot Wool Collective.
Team Revive impressed the judges with their business idea, which reduced waste by finding a use for redundant washing machines and disposing of them for local residents. Revive also secured some extra income by reclaiming copper wiring from the washing machines and selling it to a scrap dealer.
In addition to the overall prize, Revive also won the financial management, presentation and company report categories and the prize for best trade stand at the Young Enterprise Christmas Market.
There was also an individual award for team member Rosie Martin, who received the impact award for the person who made the biggest impact on the team's success.
Mairi McNaught, one of the 10 members of Revive, said the Black Isle team was surprised but delighted to have won.
"We have learned a lot about what is involved in running a business," she said.
Fellow Ross-shire team Eco Essences, which produced and sold candles in a sustainable concrete candle holder which could then be reused as a plant pot, won two team awards – achievement through adversity and best marketing and communications – with managing director Domenika Kalbukowska also taking home the pioneering leadership award.
The runner up as overall company of the year was Gordonstoun School’s Scot Wool Collective, which used surplus cashmere material from Johnstons of Elgin to create sustainable, affordable and long-lasting handcrafted scrunchies. The team also collected the evening's innovation award.
Scot Wool Collective's KimiKo Young said: "We've enjoyed working together and as we are international we have more of a perspective on how businesses work. We've enjoyed the support we've got from others too."
Her teammate Nadya Berie added: "I like economics and business, which I would like to follow in the future. So this was useful. We've gained a lot of skills like organising our time and having to manage all parts of the business."
Young Enterprise Highland and Moray chairwoman Linda Thomas said: “After the challenges of the past two years our judges were blown away by the creativity, hard work and tenacity shown by all the students who took part in this year’s programme. Every team member rose to the occasion, turning the inevitable and often overwhelming problems they faced around and producing amazing results.
“With the huge challenges young people face when looking for jobs, especially during current unsettled times, the experience gained on the Young Enterprise Scotland 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.”
Pictures and more from the event in tomorrow's Ross-shire Journal
