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Budding Inverness entrepreneurs face the dragons’ den





Fior, Millburn Academy. Back from left: Luke Gordon, Struan Fraser, Josh de Sylva, Nazarin Shetty and Finlay Hamilton. Front from left: Trixie Guce, Erin Mckenna and Lucy McGibbon.
Fior, Millburn Academy. Back from left: Luke Gordon, Struan Fraser, Josh de Sylva, Nazarin Shetty and Finlay Hamilton. Front from left: Trixie Guce, Erin Mckenna and Lucy McGibbon.

The area’s newest entrepreneurs got their first real-life taste of the world of business on November 4.

Paper Roots, Charleston Academy. From left: Abi Borthwick, Emily Miller, Joanna MacDonald and Eve MacDonald.
Paper Roots, Charleston Academy. From left: Abi Borthwick, Emily Miller, Joanna MacDonald and Eve MacDonald.

Pupils from Millburn, Inverness Royal, Charleston and Culloden Academies and Glen Urquhart High School were taking part in Young Enterprise Scotland Highland & Moray Area’s version of television’s Dragons’ Den.

Reed and Relax, Inverness Royal Academy. Back from left: Finlay Campbell, Harry Bone, Marc Mitchell, Hamish Black and Lucas Crawford. Front from left: Kate Blackhurst, Keira Hendry, Sarah Campbell and Josh Irving.
Reed and Relax, Inverness Royal Academy. Back from left: Finlay Campbell, Harry Bone, Marc Mitchell, Hamish Black and Lucas Crawford. Front from left: Kate Blackhurst, Keira Hendry, Sarah Campbell and Josh Irving.

They had the chance to pitch their ideas for products to a panel of local businesspeople.

Bear-Tastic from Inverness Royal Academy received £45 towards their children’s reading and colouring books and toy bears, while Millburn Academy’s Fior were awarded £60 for their range of recycled glass gifts.

Eco-Heat, Culloden Academy. Back from left: Jessica Austin, Riley McLeod Taylor and Josh Allan. Front from left: Tapiwa Banda and Isla MacRae.
Eco-Heat, Culloden Academy. Back from left: Jessica Austin, Riley McLeod Taylor and Josh Allan. Front from left: Tapiwa Banda and Isla MacRae.

Charleston Academy’s Paper Roots took home £40 for their recycled paper products and Glen Urquhart High School’s Forged in the Glen won £65 for their handcrafted boot pulls, bottle openers and tool caddies.

Forged in the Glen, Glen Urquhart High School. Back from left: Duncan Hill, Ruairidh Todd, Alfie MacLeod and Finlay McWhirr. Front from left: Felix McGunnigle, George Tree, Douglas Brockie.
Forged in the Glen, Glen Urquhart High School. Back from left: Duncan Hill, Ruairidh Todd, Alfie MacLeod and Finlay McWhirr. Front from left: Felix McGunnigle, George Tree, Douglas Brockie.

Culloden Academy’s Eco-heat picked up £50 towards their handmade draught excluders and Reed and Relax, also from Inverness Royal Academy, received £40 for their scented reed diffusers.

All the teams taking part also received valuable advice on how to progress their plans in time to set up a stall at the annual Young Enterprise Scotland Christmas trade fair in the Eastgate Centre, Inverness on Saturday, December 14.

Bear-Tastic, Inverness Royal Academy. Back from left: Alex Milhalkins, Kade Stuart, Sidi El Barnaoui, Pippa Ferguson and Jaydon Munro. Front from left: Owen Webster, Mia Haywood and Jasmine Donnelly,
Bear-Tastic, Inverness Royal Academy. Back from left: Alex Milhalkins, Kade Stuart, Sidi El Barnaoui, Pippa Ferguson and Jaydon Munro. Front from left: Owen Webster, Mia Haywood and Jasmine Donnelly,

The Young Enterprise Scotland 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 course of a 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, chairperson of YES Highland and Moray said: “Dragons’ Den is a real challenge for our teams as they finalise their ideas for their products and sell them to the panel.

“Our Dragons were extremely impressed with the progress they’ve already made in getting their companies set up and their products ready for market.

“Taking part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme is not just about learning how to run a business though.

“Our teams learn how to work as a team, overcoming challenges and building resilience – all of which is great preparation for their careers and will stand them in good stead in the future.”


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