Students from Bellahouston Academy in Glasgow celebrate being crowned champions of the Scotland as they go on to represent the region in The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Challenge National Finals 2019. They successfully fought off tough competition from the other top four finalist schools in the region, beating pupils from All Saints Secondary, Shawlands Academy and Hyndland Secondary.
Lydon, Jibran, Adam, Awais, Anees and Abhay, (all aged 14) – collectively known as Team Excel – went on to win the Scotland Enterprise Challenge 2019 held today at MacRoberts LLP in Glasgow. The team won the judges over with the social enterprise idea of making better use of their school grounds to grow a variety of produce to sell within the local community.
The students pitched their social enterprise ideas, Dragons Den-style in front of highly acclaimed judging panel from a spectrum of backgrounds that included: Uzma Khan – Deputy Director, Economic Strategy, Scottish Government, Ali Malik – Director, Radio Awaaz and Jwad Hanif – Partner, Miller, Beckett & Jackson Solicitors.
Keynote speaker on the day was European Sales Manager of Camelicious, Martin Lilley.
“The entrepreneurial flair of the students was outstanding, it has amazed me that we can have such a high standard from our Scottish youth. I would be a real proud member of any of the teams today, they are all viable business ideas”
Martin Lilley, European Sales Manager
On winning The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Challenge Scotland Regional Final, Team Excel said:
“We feel great that we came in here and tackled the presentation the best we could. We came in nervous but came out so confident – and we are ready for the grand finals in London! What the Prince’s Trust have done here is great for young people like us who would like a career in business!”
Team Excel, Bellahouston Academy
“It was an honour to be part of the judging panel today. The innovative ideas that all the schools came up with was nothing short of inspiring. They should all be really proud of themselves! I wish Bellahouston Academy lots of luck for May!”
Chair of Judges, Jill Low
Bellahouston Academy will now go on to the final stage of the competition where they will compete against the other top five finalist schools from across the country each representing their region at the National Grand Finals – from the North West, Yorkshire, West Midlands, London and Scotland. The students will now use the next four weeks to perfect their proposals in a bid to be crowned National Champions of The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Challenge 2019 when they next meet on the 02nd May. The teams are not only competing for the title but £3000 prize money for their schools (£500 of which as seed money towards launching their social enterprise idea.)
The Enterprise Challenge, sponsored by the Apax Foundation, is an annual, national competition during which secondary school students aged 11-16 years old learn about establishing and running a business. Experienced business professionals mentor and support the team through a business simulation game, with the highest-scoring team in each region creating their own social enterprise business ideas and pitching them in regional and national finals.
This year 61 schools and over 2500 students in six areas of the UK including the South East, the West Midlands, the North West, in Yorkshire, London and Glasgow have participated.
The Enterprise Challenge National Finals takes place on Thursday 02nd at Hogan Lovells, London.
Follow the competition on #PTEnterpriseChallenge
