Budding Forres and Gordonstoun entrepreneurs face Young Enterprise Scotland 'Dragons’ Den'
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MORAY’S entrepreneurs of the future got their first taste of doing business during a pandemic last week.
Pupils from Forres Academy and Gordonstoun School took part in Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) Highland and Moray area’s own online version of TV show Dragons’ Den on Monday, November 16. They pitched their ideas for products by video link to a panel of local businesspeople.
Heather and Happiness, from Forres Academy, was awarded £80 towards producing its boxes of spa and wellness products to help promote positive mental health.
Gordonstoun’s Teach Tech received £80 to develop plans for its app to help elderly people learn how to use technology, while the school’s second team, Stoun-Socks, clinched £100 to kick-start production of school-related socks.
All the teams received advice on how to take their ideas forward in time to set up a socially-distanced stall at the annual YES Christmas trade fair in Inverness on Saturday, December 12.
The YES company programme for Highland and Moray runs in partnership with local schools and businesses across the area to encourage young people to experience the challenges of running a business.
Over the year teams from individual schools learn how to run a successful business by designing and making products, marketing them and managing the financial side of the business. 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 an area team.
Linda Thomas, chair of YES Highland and Moray, said: "Dragons’ Den is always a challenge for our teams as they refine their concepts for their products and sell them to the panel.
"This year was even more difficult than usual but the teams rose to the challenge, delivering their presentations and answering questions with aplomb.
"Our dragons were hugely impressed with the time and energy that had gone into researching markets and products and we all look forward to seeing the plans coming to fruition over the next few weeks.
"Our teams of young people learn about working together, thinking creatively and managing change and challenging circumstances, all of which is great preparation for their careers and will stand them in good stead, particularly in these difficult times."
The members of the Dragon’s Den panel were Adam Bell, of Moment Agencies; Grant Wright, of Everyone Entertainment; Sarah Frame-O’Hare, of Strategy Cards; and Marie Smith, of The Artisan Bothy.
