Board teenagers triumph at award scheme with idea to bridge generation gap on Black Isle
BRIGHT sparks who devised a simple board game credited with bridging the generation gap and helping to tackle loneliness will go on to represent the Highlands at a national youth enterprise competition after being voted top of the class this week.
Trading as Venture, the team from Fortrose Academy came up with a board spinner game that sparks conversation on a variety of topics between players.
The pupils have used the idea with senior citizens in their own patch at regular board game sessions at the Black Isle secondary and even entered a 5K run to raise funds for a local group providing care to older folk.
Venture swept the board at the Highland and Moray regional finals of the Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme with a top Company of the Year accolade.
The team also won awards for production and development, innovation, marketing and communications, financial management and the best company report.
Team members Andrew Orr and Ellie Mann also picked up individual prizes in the Entrepreneurship category.
They will travel to Edinburgh in June to represent the area at the YES national finals.
Invergordon Academy’s InverG Xmas Treats won the Achievement through Adversity award along with £50 for their Year in 8 Photos record of their experience developing Christmas gift stockings. Team member Rhianna Newlands also won £75 as runner-up in the Entrepreneurship category.
Pupils learn how to run a successful company by designing and making products, marketing them and managing the financial side of the business.
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 past five years more than 700 young people have taken part. Up to one third of the schools in Highland & Moray have had a team taking part in the programme in any one year.
Last year’s regional winners from Plockton High School went on to win awards for best trade stand and innovation at the Scottish national final, following in the footsteps of Fortrose Academy who won the national final in 2017 and went on to represent Scotland at the UK final.
Over the course of a year teams from individual schools learn how to run a successful company 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 a YES area team.
Linda Thomas, Chair of YES Highland and Moray said: “Once again our judges were overwhelmed by the tenacity, professionalism and creativity on display from all the teams who took part in this year’s programme.
“They all achieved remarkable results, growing in confidence to produce amazing products and run successful companies. In these challenging times this experience is invaluable and will stand them in good stead in the future when they come to look for jobs.”
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