GOLSPIE PUPILS GET A TASTE FOR BUSINESS

28th November 2006

A team of 6th year pupils at Golspie High School will find out later this week if they've made the grade as a one-off enterprise programme concludes in a series of business presentations by them.

The programme held over three, one-day workshops which started in September was designed by Dornoch-based management consultant Iain Fraser to expose the senior pupils to theories, processes and checklists in new product generation, strategic business thinking, marketing and entrepreneurship.

With funding from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE), the pupils found out the secrets of how to achieve success in business. This involved understanding how organisations work, the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, team working, how money moves through a business and the importance of profit.

The analytical skills of the pupils were developed and encouragement provided towards their understanding of new product development, marketing and corporate finance.

The pupils have focussed on one specific business idea, which they agreed on at their first workshop after generating many initial ideas. They have taken it from initial concept to final business development and will present their ideas and conclusions to a number of judges including the managing director of the Essentia Group and representatives from CASE and Careers Scotland.

Head of business development at CASE Susan Smith said: "We decided to take enterprise into the classroom to get more young people thinking about business and self employment as a possible future career option.

"The school agreed to our ideas and to take this initial project on as a pilot. We also hope it will help strengthen the links between education and local businesses and give more young people another reason to stay in the area."

Head of business education at Golspie High School Ann Madine said: "This project has been well received by the pupils and given them a valuable insight into how businesses successfully operate. By seeing the workshops unfold over the last two months, it's given me a fresh perspective and useful teaching material for the future. The pupils now hope to take their idea and actually launch it if they feel it is financially viable."

Golspie High School rector, William Irwin, is also extremely pleased that this co-operative venture between CASE and Golspie High School is going well and that the young people involved are making valuable links between their course work and the real-life business experiences which Mr Fraser is sharing with them.

An evaluation will be carried out by CASE and if positive and viable the programme may be rolled out to other schools in Caithness and Sutherland in the future with a competitive element incorporated.