issue three May 2012 BUSINESSENTERPRISEBULLETIN
Calling all schools‌ the enterprise challenge
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BUSINESSENTERPRISEBULLETIN
nterprise and business education in East Ayrshire schools is moving on apace – and the BE bulletin showcases this achievement.
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Around the schools… Auchinleck and Cumnock
Doon
The Council’s Business Enterprise Fund has sparked not only the launch of Business Enterprise and Skills Centres in our nine secondary schools - but also a burst of ideas, creativity and individuality.
Future plans include a new learning centre for students at Hope Homes’ Knockroon housing development .
Courses are being delivered in Higher Leadership currently to 25 pupils. SfW in Engineering will be delivered in partnership with Ayr College. Seventy-five pupils have participated in masterclasses linked to the school’s BESC and 21 have completed Intermediate 1 work experience.
Each school has selected initiatives and programmes tailored to suit the requirements and talents of students to help make them ready for a bright future in the world of work. Programmes are backed by accredited qualifications at a range of levels, right up to Higher. Such qualifications not only make young people more desirable in the eyes of employers, but also develop their personal awareness and skills such as communication, teamworking and leadership. Local business leaders play a great part by acting as role models, offering their experience and support in mentoring students and backing this ambitious education initiative. The strong partnership of schools, Council and business leaders will help us take the next steps towards building sustainability into this programme for the future.
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Doon has business links with Craigengillan Estate, Horizon Hotel and Goodrich.
Grange Courses being delivered include Intermediate 1 Skills for Work (SfW) Construction at Auchinleck and Int 1/2 Fashion Textile at Cumnock. Next session, Intermediate1 SfW Construction will be delivered in conjunction with Hope Homes. Thirty pupils are enjoying hands-on learning at Knockroon. Auchinleck Academy’s business department plans to market products made by pupils.
Intermediate 1 Enterprise and Employability courses are being delivered to S3 and SfW Engineering at Access 3, in conjunction with Kilmarnock College. Design and Manufacture and Scottish Studies courses will be introduced next year. Ninety-six pupils have chosen Design and Manufacture next year and 67 have opted for Scottish Studies. Programmes will be sustainable and will include all schools on the campus. There has been much interest in Mauchline Ware boxes produced by Grange enterprise group. The school has links with Colin McInnes, Smillie & Cuthbertson, Dr Peter Hughes (Scottish Engineering), Keppie Design, Scarlett’s and Rainbow Printers.
Contents Around the schools…update 2 Our schools are top of the class 3 Enter the dragons 4 Superchef Shannon is Ayrshire cook champ 5 New windows look back to the future 6 The art of enterprise at Doon 7 Stewarton students on song 8 Art of enterprise in the museum 9 Want a bike? Press print! 10 Nothing will stop press going global! 11 Shannon shines as future cook star 12 Enterprise Games plan is Loudoun clear! 12 Young enterprise helps get village green 13 KA is simply the BESC 13 Flaming great start to Olympic food challenge 14 Art’s the fashion for young designers 16 Young people fit for business 17 Teachers join business leaders 18
James Hamilton Painting and decorating, electrical, plumbing and bricklaying courses have been delivered as part of Construction Crafts Intermediate SfW. The school also offers Steps to Work Access/ Intermediate 1, Digital Media Intermediate 1 and Junior Sports Leader Award. Engineering Skills SfW is planned for next year and vehicle maintenance should also be accredited. In future, leadership qualifications will be delivered as part of Youth Achievement Awards, with progression to Intermediate 2/ Higher Leadership. Business links have been developed with Hope Homes, Eggar, Howden’s, JD Services, Pollock, Kerr & Smith, Barr, Ramsay Jackson and Dumfries House.
Business links include McCallum Bagpipes;Nichol McKay, Prestwick ; Action for Children; BBC Scotland; Impact Arts.
Kilmarnock The school’s planned new radio station is on the way to completion. Kilmarnock Academy offers the Employability Award, Junior Sports Leader Award and enterprise electives.
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…update There are plans to include personal development courses from first year, which will include leadership and entrepreneurship. Business links have been formed with L&M Survey Services, The Klin Group, Mahle and ASDA.
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Our schools are top of the class A top teacher from Kilmarnock – and a group from Dalmellington - have beaten off stiff competition from across Scotland to be selected as finalists in the Scottish Education Awards 2012. Heading for the ceremony in Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel in June will be technical teacher Tom Campbell of Kilmarnock Academy and the Doon Academy team of pupil support teachers Doreen Murray and Aileen Wood, along with Lynne McDowall from EAST. Tom Campbell has been shortlisted for the coveted Teacher of the Year Award for his passion and talent for teaching.
Loudoun
Tom pioneered an engineering project where S1 pupils developed teamwork and communication skills as they worked to solve problems during a simulated natural disaster. He also led a team of pupils on the F1 challenge, a competition to build and race a prototype-racing car – for which they became Scottish champions.
Programmes available in the school include Millennium Volunteer awards / Dynamic Youth awards; Certificate of Personal Effectivness awards. Loudoun is also seeking Co-op status. The main spend so far is for the demonstration kitchen, laser cutter and other equipment. Sixty-five students were involved in the Enterkine House event (see page 14). The Top Gear group has adopted the famous pandas in Edinburgh Zoo and has raised funds for the care of animals in the zoo. Business links include Enterkine Country House Hotel, Columba 1400, the Co-op, West Sound, BBC and Giglets publishing.
St Joseph’s Programmes have been delivered to S3 and S6 classes in Enterprise and Employability Intermediate 1/ Intermediate 2. Departments are setting up new qualifications in Cake Decorating/Baking, linking home economics and biology; Youth Achievement Awards; animation; and cycling. The school is exploring the possibility of SfW in furniture restoration. There are 72 pupils in four businesses which have been set up in school. Business links have been developed with the Klin Group; Braehead Foods; Cazbro Coaching; Michael Kilkie and Space Unlimited.
Stewarton Courses are available for pupils in Leadership, Employability Skills, Personal Development , Steps to Work, Skills for Work, Creative Industries/Sound Engineering. Excellent business links have been developed with Sainsburys, whose staff have mentored pupils, carried out mock interviews and offered work placements. In future, the school would like to develop landscaping links to create a garden in the grounds.
Doon Academy is also in the running for an accolade, after judges selected the school as a finalist for the Literacy Across Learning Award. The school took the brave decision to address the significant literacy difficulties of a group of S1 pupils whose reading ages were below the standard required for secondary education. Teachers took the pupils out of their normal timetable for two periods every morning to provide intensive support in reading, spelling and writing. Judges agreed that Doon Academy deserved recognition for putting pupils at the heart of the learning process and giving them a chance to excel in an engaging environment. Graham Short, Executive Director of Educational and Social Services, said: “The nominees reflect the hard work, commitment and excellence of service to the young people of East Ayrshire that is found throughout our establishments and services.”
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Sir Tom with Auchinleck Academy winners at the front
Enter the dragons Sir Tom Hunter’s Challenge Nervous young entrepreneurs entered the Chambers to face the dragon, on a quest to win a coveted treasure chest of £5,000 in January. The challenge - issued to all East Ayrshire pupils by top entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter - was to come up with the best new idea for a product, innovation or business.
Delighted at the response, Sir Tom said: “East Ayrshire is leading in enterprise in Scotland and what has happened here today is what it is all about. “Scottish education – and why not an Ayrshire education? – is a brilliant passport which is going to stand you in good stead wherever you go”. The Dragons’ Den-style contest took place in the Council’s HQ after Sir Tom, one of
Scotland’s richest men, dared budding young innovators to follow in his footsteps. Local-boymade-good Sir Tom listened to proposals from top entrants from each of the nine academies and then judged them, with the winner scooping a personal prize of £1,000 and £4,000 for his/her school.
Urging the young entrepreneurs to forge ahead, he said: “Things may be tough economically right now – but out of adversity is where good ideas come. People have to become more diverse and creative.
Ideas included everything from Happy Hampers and Ghost Tours, to sun-lotion impregnated baby wipes - and the amazing Plectraband (a plectrum attached to a wrist band)! But winners on the day - chosen by the audience using instant electronic voting in a fast, exciting finish - were Auchinleck Academy’s Vicky Greig and Ross Anderson with their 99p MiMovie phone app idea. The app selects the perfect movie for you, based on your mood and situation at the time.
“This recession is similar to the one I faced when starting in business. To be an entrepreneur, you don’t have to have your own business. It’s just an attitude.
Vicky said: “There are other movie apps on the market, but none quite like ours, which personalises movies to suit users and offers you a link to download”.
“Don’t be affected by doom and gloom. There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel – and it’s your tunnel. All you need is confidence and education.
Sir Tom with Auchinleck Academy winners Vicky Greig and Ross Anderson (S5)
Ross added: “Our database is much bigger than “In a conversation with Bill Gates, we agreed the likes of Odeon, as we include movies past and that the one thing which makes the most present and we’re not limited to just one group”. difference in education is the quality of the teacher. We need investment in these great So impressed was Sir Tom Hunter by all the professionals in the future”. presentations that he took the decision on the spot to award all the other challengers £250.
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Superchef Shannon
is Ayrshire cook champ Youngsters from secondary schools in East, North and South Ayrshire competed in a hard-fought final at the Cook School Scotland, in a bid to be crowned all-Ayrshire cook champ.
Chef Derek Donaldson of the Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow even admitted he couldn’t have cooked it better himself. Runners-up were Gemma Ambrosini of St Matthew’s Academy, Saltcoats and Jennifer Veitch, of Belmont Academy, Ayr. The cook-off was for S3 pupils studying Home Economics/Hospitality. Budding chefs from each area had made it through previous heats to the final, against stiff culinary competition for the master chef prize. Awarding the trophies, Craig Stevenson, managing director of Braehead Foods, praised the performance and enthusiasm of the youngsters. He said: “We initiated the competition last year with East Ayrshire. This year we branched out to include North and South Ayrshire, providing an exciting opportunity for young people to work with and learn from experienced chefs”. Craig is one of the business leaders backing East Ayrshire Council’s £1 million business enterprise programme in secondary schools, aiming to help make pupils ‘business ready’.
East Ayrshire competitors l to r – Amy Gibson, Lauren McNaughton, Emily Hood, Shannon Gallacher; adults, l to r, Phil Lewis, Head Chef Cook School; Ian Ramsay, chef, Beardmore Hotel; Derek Donaldson, chef, Blythswood Hotel
And it was an East Ayrshire victory, thanks to the culinary expertise of Shannon Gallacher, 14, of Loudoun Academy, who garnered particular praise for her winning ways with chicken.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “I was delighted to welcome young people from North and South Ayrshire to the final in Kilmarnock. It was a bonus that the winner was a local one – so congratulations to Shannon for her brilliant performance and welldeserved success. “Partnerships between schools and mentors such as Craig Stevenson are helping to prepare our pupils for employment, by working in real-life situations with the best in the business”.
Shannon receives her award from Cllr Reid
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New windows look back to the future They may still be at school, but three young entrepreneurs are already working on their The enterprising students explained their ideas, previously approved by the Klin Group, to first commission – which will be very much in the public eye. officers from the Council’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) and planning department, whose full agreement was required for the project. Marie Macklin said: “This is what regeneration is all about - involving the whole community, especially our young people. “We could have appointed a company from the private sector for this service, but to involve the pupils through the Council’s school enterprise and business leaders programme was the right decision. “Scott, Liam and Siobhan have worked hard, learning about Kilmarnock’s history, about finance, art, communication and making commercial decisions.
St Joseph’s Academy sixth year pupils Scott Bracki, Liam Gallagher and Siobhan Connelly have been commissioned by the Klin Group to create window designs for the restored frontage of the old Opera House – now known as the Encore development – in Kilmarnock’s John Finnie Street. The three youngsters, along with technical teacher David Ritson, attended their first site meeting and inspected the interior of the B-listed building, which is undergoing massive restoration.
“I am also looking forward in the future to working with Kilmarnock Academy students, who have been commissioned to produce a mural for the Encore entrance.”
Marie Macklin, CEO of the Klin Group, appointed the pupils in August 2011 to research and develop window decals for the ground floor The development of the former Opera House windows. A financial donation will be made to building will provide office accommodation for the school from Klin Group for their services. 200 Council employees in autumn 2012. This Designs planned for the windows depict scenes forms part of a wider programme of from the glorious past of the Opera House – regeneration to restore the fine Victorian which has seen service as a church, a saleroom streetscape to its former glory. and a nightclub in its time - and even include some vintage Kilmarnock Standard headlines.
Drew Macklin, Scott Bradci, Siobhan Connelly, Marie Macklin, Liam Gallagher
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The art of
enterprise
at Doon There is no shortage of ideas to inspire young people at Doon Academy – and a Miner’s Lamp is just one of them! The Dalmellington school has always been known for its forwardthinking, ‘can-do’ attitude – and this has been further enhanced by funding from the Council’s £1 million Business Education Fund (BEF). With its share of the cash, Doon has set up a new in-school Business and Skills Enterprise Centre (BESC) with programmes designed to prepare school leavers for the world of work. Welcoming guests to the launch of the new centre, Headteacher John MacKenzie praised the authority’s ‘bold thinking’. He said: “The ambitious BEF project has helped focus the school’s planning, to help our students become even more enterprising and entrepreneurial”. Twenty-five sixth year students are following a leadership course, which will gain them an SQA Higher qualification. The course enables young people to learn about themselves and develop leadership qualities and also to gain practical experience in organising a range of activities.
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In another strand of their BESC programme, young people are designing and making high quality art goods – such as silk paintings, felt jewellery and cushion covers – which they will sell both locally and online to a global market, under the banner of ‘The Miner’s Lamp’. Excellent Higher photography images of local landscapes have also been framed, ready for sale. The ‘Miner’s Lamp’ business name and logo were developed by third year pupils. The logo was produced professionally by graphic designer Allan McKeown and has been used on all the school’s promotional products. Students have joined forces with local business owner Jim Bone, who has agreed to sell the goods in his shop. In the future, the young entrepreneurs plan to develop online retailing. Attending the launch, Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said:”Doon Academy students are a very enterprising group of young people, with a real get up and go attitude. “They felt there was an excellent opportunity to develop tourism in Dalmellington, by producing and selling local handmade goods. To this end, they are running a project which will allow them to develop skills such as creativity, teamwork and initiative, by working in a real-life context”. Principal Teacher of Art and Design Justine Fuller added: “Our BEF funding has allowed us to invest in several manufacturing items, including a cutter plotter, a laser cutter, a 3D router and embroidery machines. This investment will allow pupils to develop their creativity, enterprise and manufacturing skills in a variety of ways across the curriculum”.
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l to r, Rev George Lind, Catriona Hinds (Chair of Parent Council), Cllr John MacKay, Cllr Hugh Ross; pupils - Kirsten Beveridge, Andrew Murtagh, Caitlin Callaghan and Andrew Zborowski-Gray.
Enterprising students on song in Stewarton Stewarton Academy is taking the creative route to enterprise in a bid to ensure school leavers have skills and qualifications for careers in the modern world. Launching the academy’s new Business and Enterprise Skills Centre (BESC), Headteacher Sandra Leslie said she was proud her school was part of East Ayrshire Council’s ambitious enterprise push – and sure of her pupils’ determination to succeed. Young people will be able to follow a wider range of courses beyond the standard curriculum, including Baccalaureate and Open University programmes. The BESC also offers Steps to Work and Personal Development courses, in partnership with local business partners Sainsburys. Stewarton Academy’s programme has a focus on the creative industries – a growth area for jobs in Scotland – with training available in its new state-of-the-art music studio, installed to develop young people’s skills in digital media and performance.
Pupils will record performances and compositions and may work towards gaining qualifications in sound engineering and production (Intermediate 2). The high-tech studio will be used to create CDs, podcasts and radio programming for broadcast in the school. Skills for work (creative industries) and music: technology (sound engineering) courses will also be on offer. The academy’s Design and Technology department has used its share of the Council’s £1 million Business Enterprise Fund to buy a new £6,000 laser cutter. Design students now plan to make and sell items cut from glass, wood and plastic.
Katie McNulty and Sarah McHutchinson’s winning logo featured on a cake which guests enjoyed at the launch
“There is huge enthusiasm in schools for this ambitious programme, which will encourage entrepreneurial qualities and get more leavers Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, into work, training or employment. said: ““East Ayrshire schools mean business. “I’m delighted that Stewarton Academy is taking this forward in such a positive and creative way”.
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art of
enterprise in the museum The usually peaceful museum surroundings of Kilmarnock’s Dick Institute were buzzing with activity as young entrepreneurs showed off their creative and enterprising skills.
On display at The Dick were a range of products created for sale by the youngsters – all with a Scottish heritage theme - to be marketed locally and globally, via the internet. Star of the show was the miniature replica Burns First Edition printing press, built from original plans housed in The Dick, by Grange technical teacher Peter Smith. Plan is to sell high-quality miniature replicas – and hand-crafted Mauchline ware boxes – to niche collector markets as well as general buyers. Pupils will manufacture copies using hi-tech machines purchased with the school’s share of the Business Enterprise Fund. Other goods on sale included superb jewellery and glassware and handmade soaps – with even more set to come online in future. Opening the busy event, Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “I believe that looking into Scotland’s rich cultural past can inspire our future. “This is a fantastic display of the young people’s talent and skill. Holding Welcoming local business leaders and councillors to the launch of Grange the event in The Dick highlights Grange Academy’s creative approach. Academy’s ambitious enterprise programme, Headteacher Fred The Burns press - and the fact that the school has appointed the first Wildridge admitted he usually liked change – but the new enterprise drive Principal Teacher of Scottish Studies in Scotland - ties in with the whole ‘terrified’ him. Scottish theme. He said: “It terrifies me, because the only limitation to the Business and “I commend their inclusive approach of working in partnership with our Enterprise Skills Centre is the imagination of the pupils, which is unlimited. arts and museums team and with other schools on their campus”. We have had many very exciting ideas presented already”.
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Want a bike? Press print!
Many schools nowadays have hi-tech equipment for young learners – but one Kilmarnock secondary has a piece of kit which no other school in the UK possesses. The small, square machine in a Technical classroom in Grange Academy – looking for all the world like a coffee-maker or small fridge – is actually a state-of-the-art 3D printer. If you want to make something, you put a 3D drawing of the item into a computer, press print – and the machine ‘prints’ not a picture, but the actual object, which you can then pick up and handle. “It’s absolutely amazing”, said Headteacher Fred Wildridge. “At first I just couldn’t get my head round it – until I saw it with my own eyes”. The £16,000 HP Design jet 3D printer arrived in the school in late January. The first object made by the printer was a perfectly contoured pepper pot, complete with screwtop and small holes in the lid. It is made of a white resin and is almost indestructible. David Ross, design director with architects Keppie Design and business mentor to Grange Academy, was amazed when he visited the school to see the 3D printer in action – and very envious.
He said: “I wish we had one of these for our practice. It would save a lot of time and money, making architectural models, if we could just press a button and print an entire miniature three dimensional structure”. There is even a printer that has geeks amazed, because it is self-replicating and can print itself so you could use your 3D printer to print yourself another 3D printer! There’s also a mind-boggling film on youtube of a working, life size bike being printed on one of the amazing machines. Fred Wildridge said: “The day after I placed the order, Hewlett-Packard called me to ask if I was sure about it. They said this was the first time a school in the UK had ever ordered a 3D printer”. The school is using the machine for pupils to print out items they have designed, starting with decorations and small gifts such as teddy bears, signs and keyrings, before advancing to more complex, larger objects. When installing the printer, the engineer printed a test piece – not writing on a piece of paper, but a detailed model of a Gothic cathedral complete with turrets, spires and windows. Fred Wildridge said: “This printer is something quite new and unique in schools, but I feel we should be exploring new areas.
We envisage using the machine to support our enterprise programme by allowing pupils to design working prototypes which are functional, fit for purpose and which can be sold for profit. “We also intend to engage with business partners, such as local metalworkers Duncan McInnes Ltd. Colin McInnes will be visiting the school to work with junior pupils on prototypes made in the 3D printer that can be used in the design of his geodome product”. Technical teacher Paul McGurn said: “The machine uses files from 3D modelling packages such as AutoCAD and AutoDesk Inventor to create prototypes of products. It builds these models up in layers of resin which are as fine as 0.225 of a millimetre. “We are currently using the 3D printer with senior product design pupils to create prototypes of their design concepts and also with S1 / S2 pupils, who will now get a chance see and hold the design which they have created on the computer - without having to touch a single tool”. Fred Wildridge concluded: “The obvious question might be – who would want a 3D printer? “I think it’s actually completely the opposite question - who wouldn’t?”
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Nothing will stop press going global! ‘Grange Goes Global’ was the slogan on everyone’s lips at Grange Academy, as students planned to sell Ayrshire heritage products online, with strong backing from the Hunter Foundation. In an ambitious enterprise drive, the school is manufacturing and marketing small scale models of the First Edition Printing Press – the wooden press used by John Wilson to print the first edition of 612 copies of the poems of Robert Burns in July 1786, which shot the young poet to fame. Grange Academy Enterprise Group replicated Wilson’s press in the hope of creating a niche market for this valuable piece of local cultural heritage. Technical teacher Peter Smith created a template, working from original plans held in the Dick Institute, where a full-sized working model is displayed. Pupils can manufacture copies using new hi-tech machines purchased with the school’s BEF money.
Printing press model number one was taken by Head of Scottish Engineering Dr Peter Hughes to Cape Town, South Africa, while model number two travelled to Madeira with local tenor John Goodwin – all part of GGG’s plans to take over the world! Backing the bid to ‘go global’, local architect David Ross of Keppie Design took model press number three to Hong Kong, when he travelled there recently on business. David presented the model to Jacqui Donaldson, Chieftain of Hong Kong’s St Andrew’s Society, a prestigious expats group. David said: “As a business leader promoting entrepreneurship, one of my tasks is to build potential business links between the schools and Scottish communities overseas.
“The enterprise initiative is an inspiring one. Even in challenging times, the energy, enthusiasm and imagination of our young people are motivating to those of us in business. “The Council is to be commended for its appreciation of the potential for bridging perceived gaps between school curriculum and business life”. Grange Headteacher Fred Wildridge said: “East Ayrshire’s rich cultural heritage is world famous. We are aiming high and our products will tap into the huge market for Burns memorabilia. “We chose to make these unique items because they fit well into what we are doing in the school and into the national curriculum. We recently appointed Jean Hillhouse as the first PT of Scottish Studies in the whole of Scotland and we also have a Gaelic Unit in the school”.
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shines Enterprise Games plan Shannon as future cook star is Loudoun clear! One budding young chef had double cause to celebrate at school recently. Not only did hardworking Shannon Gallacher win first place in the all-Ayrshire Cook Off at the Cook School Scotland – but she was offered a unique work placement at luxury four-star Enterkine Country House Hotel. Shannon, from Hurlford, was one of a group of Loudoun Academy pupils who enjoyed a training day at Enterkine, in preparation for a banquet event planned to take place at the hotel. Enterkine is linked with the school as part of Loudoun’s business enterprise programme. The quiet 15-year-old’s culinary skill made her stand out – so much so that Enterkine sales manager Fiona Menmuir was keen to offer Shannon whatever help she could to further her career.
In an ambitious drive to build on business and community links, students in Loudoun Academy focused on their own 2012 Olympics. Their newly-formed enterprise company is called LOGIC – ‘Loudoun’s Olympic Games is Coming’. The budding young entrepreneurs took on the challenge of delivering opportunities for pupils in hospitality and manufacturing, both growth areas for employment in Ayrshire. Main focus was on the major banquet event in luxury four-star Enterkine Country House Hotel, in South Ayrshire. Loudoun’s own Olympic Torch was designed by Robyn Sands and a logo for the Enterkine House Hotel event was created by Ashley Wilson. With its share of the Business Enterprise Fund (BEF), the school is also setting up a new hi-tech Business and Enterprise Skills Centre (BESC). The Centre will house a state-of-the-art printer and laser cutter which students will use to produce corporate merchandise for sale.
The school’s ambitious programme has already produced results. Enterkine House Hotel staff delivered a quality training day to 20 students and pupil Shannon Gallacher won the allAyrshire Cook School Challenge. Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “In the future we will need highly skilled and motivated young people in East Ayrshire and I’m sure that this Centre will develop the skills for learning, life and work required by the young people at Loudoun to move on to positive destinations when they leave school.
Said Fiona: “Shannon was mentored by our head chef Paul Moffat. Initially three pupils came to Enterkine prior to the Cook School competition and one - Shannon was chosen to go throught to the final.”
“The BESC will deliver improved employability skills in key industrial sectors such as food and drink, hospitality and engineering. The intention is to match the skills of the pupils to the needs of the employers”.
Chef Paul Moffat gave her tips on preparation and presentation, to make the food more visually appealing on the plate. Shannon’s chicken dish proved to be a winner when she scooped first prize in the cook competition.
Headteacher Peter Flood said: “This is just a glimpse of the power of creativity in the school. We are all very excited about this programme and see it as a long term commitment. The pupils want to make a difference to their own lives and the lives of others. It’s thanks to the A fabulous demonstration kitchen will also be dedication of our staff that we are able to make situated in the Centre, allowing further commercial sure this happens”. opportunities for the students through training, delivering services and manufacturing.
Fiona said: “Shannon is very young, but absolutely passionate about her work. We are keen to offer her an internship in the future. Shannon said: “It was great working in the kitchen at Enterkine as it lets you see what you need to do when you get to that level. Paul helped me work on my presentation and taught me how important it is that the food really looks good enough to eat”.
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Young enterprise helps get village green Lucky youngsters were given a boost in their drive to make their village even greener when they received new eco equipment for their playgrounds recently.
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The Knockroon Enterprise Initiative, run by the Council and Hope Homes, involves pupils from Auchinleck and Cumnock Academies in hands-on training which provides the young people with opportunities to develop skills for the world of work. As part of the programme, pupils have been constructing and marketing products - including compost boxes, log stores and invertebrate hotels on site at the new housing development. Catrine Community Enterprise Trust recently purchased a number of composters and invertebrate hotels - and now young people in Catrine are getting down to grass roots in an effort to improve the landscaping in areas of the village. Following their visit, the Auchinleck Academy pupils hoped that even more orders for their products would come pouring in. Catrine Primary School Headteacher Campbell McLinton said: “We have an Eco Group of 18 pupils of all ages which meets at lunchtimes and after school - a healthy percentage in a school with a roll of 120.
Auchinleck Academy senior pupils Kris Giraldas, Connor Fleming, Daniel Gibson and Mathew McMichael, along with teacher Martyn Hendry, dropped in to see budding young gardeners at Catrine primary and nursery schools. They brought composters and invertebrate hotels they had made as part of an enterprise project at Knockroon, with Hope Homes. Also visiting the school were Heather Robertson of Catrine Community Trust, Hugh Hutchison, Community Enterprise Development Manager and Janice McKellar, Hope Homes sales advisor.
“Our playground is an extensive open space and children have scope for honing their horticultural skills. We have a number of established trees and we recently built a greenhouse from recycled plastic bottles”. Janice McKellar said: “Even the very young show a keen interest in caring for their environment. “At the nursery, they were happy to don hard hats and showed us work already underway in the playground. The tots were particularly curious about the inhabitants of their ‘bug box’!”
Enterprise push is simply the BESC ‘Ambition and vibrancy’ are keywords for the future at Kilmarnock Academy. That was the message coming loud and clear from Headteacher Bryan Paterson as he welcomed guests to the launch of the town centre school’s new Business and Enterprise Skills Centre (BESC). He said: “We have to offer something different - because more of the same is not working”. With its Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) money, Kilmarnock Academy has purchased a new laser cutter and sublimation printer, as well as equipment for a new radio station. The launch coincided with the Academy’s busy Industrial Awareness Day, when all third year pupils took part in competitive activities geared towards learning about the world of work, with the emphasis on teamwork and communication. In the marketing task, pupils were asked to devise a campaign, including poster, jingle and free gift, for a hamburger, which they had to ‘sell’ to business leaders. Attending the event, Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “This is the school’s 11th annual Industrial Awareness Day, so it’s not a new thing. It is important to point out that the BESC programme will form part of an existing commitment to linking and working with local business leaders. It is a build-in, rather than a bolt-on – and it has to be sustainable”.
Jim Kirkwood of Allanvale Properties inspired youngsters by telling them about his road to success. Representatives from the Police, Army and a range of local businesses also took part. Marie Macklin, Chief Executive of the Klin Group, joined competitors in the Industrial Awareness event at her former school – and was so keen to get back to help her group win, that she did not even finish her tea at the interval. Bryan Paterson said: “We can build our new radio studio into media, English and personal development programmes. It’s a whole school resource, which will be a popular addition, with new courses being developed in communication and radio production. “Our planned employability course will create a sense of vibrancy in the school and will build ambition and a ‘can do’ attitude in children”. Councillor Douglas Reid said: “As a former pupil of Kilmarnock Academy, I’m always delighted to be invited back. Although this school has a rich heritage and tradition, it is also very forward-looking.”
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Flaming great start to Olympic food challenge A fiery torch, fine dining, music and art – all combined in a recipe for success to cook up a spectacular evening’s entertainment with a difference, in a stunning setting. And the amazing part was – the whole event was organised and run by young people from Loudoun Academy. Guests enjoyed a unique evening in luxury Enterkine Country House Hotel – and having paid £25 per ticket, the diners expected only the best of the Olympic-themed evening. Teams of budding young entrepreneurs took on the challenge of delivering opportunities for pupils in hospitality - and the main event was the Enterkine spectacular. The evening began with a sparkling champagne reception and an opportunity to browse a gallery of artwork and objects produced by art, design and technology students. The expectant crowd gathered in front of the house in the darkness to see two young athletes race up the three-quarter mile long driveway carrying Loudoun’s very own blazing Olympic Torch, which then took pride of place in the dining room.
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Guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal cooked and served by youngsters, who had worked at Enterkine over several weeks to prepare for the event. Four students joined chef Paul Moffat’s culinary team to design and select the menu, which was presented in the Enterkine style of excellence. Choice for the evening was rose of ogen melon, soft fruits, red wine sorbet and coriander sherbet; breast of corn-fed chicken with white wine and sweet pepper fricassee; and toffee caramel Pavlova. Sixteen pupils worked with the hotel’s front of house team, having undergone quality training in preparation for their debut to reach the high standard required. The room was dressed for the occasion by the front of house team under the watchful eye of sales manager Fiona Menmuir. Guests enjoyed music from singing geography teacher Andy Cartmell, sixth year pupil Fraser Keegan on piano and, on guitar, head boy Calum Brown. In all, 70 students from S3 to S6 played their parts, doing everything from sending out invitations, making place cards, laying tables – to clearing up and washing dishes. Fiona Menmuir said: “We have been delighted to work with the young people from Loudoun Academy. I have seen them grow in confidence and develop skills and they truly are a credit to their school and their families”.
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Art’s the fashion
for young designers
Live music, stunning fashion and an amazing array of art and design… The creative talent of young people was there for all to see – and hear.
Guests were welcomed by music from Stewarton Academy guitar ensemble, before being treated to a fashion extravaganza put on by students of Kilmarnock and Cumnock academies, modelling fantastic creations.
Their skill was celebrated in the annual Schools Art and Design Exhibition in The Dick.
Kilmarnock Academy art teacher Kirsty Lee said: “Our students experimented with materials The display featured artwork by pupils of such as bottle tops, sweet wrappers, bin bags Auchinleck, Cumnock, Doon, Grange, James and eggshells. Using these kinds of materials Hamilton, Kilmarnock, Loudoun, Stewarton and allows maximum creativity - as well as helping St Joseph’s academies and Park School. the environment!”
Teraessa Lopez, Cumnock Academy PT of art and design, said: “This was a technically challenging project for pupils. Some had never even threaded a needle before!” The Creative Minds Team organised workshops and artist residencies which linked students directly to professional artists. This practical experience encouraged development of new skills, as well as presenting exciting opportunities for pupils. Cumnock Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) supported the Art of Regeneration project at Cumnock Academy and Eden Trust provided funding.
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Young people Budding young entrepreneurs learned how to take the first steps into setting up their own businesses in an event organised by the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) in the Park Hotel, Kilmarnock, earlier this year.
fit for business
Six young people from each secondary school joined 50 Kilmarnock College students in a day of motivational talks and workshops on topics such as marketing and raising finance. They also met with successful entrepreneurs, local and national. And the event got off to a rousing start, when the opening speaker had them on their feet straight away! Boxer and elite personal trainer Ricky Singh had everyone running on the spot and doing squats and lunges as a warm-up to a day of challenges. Ricky, 24, a former James Hamilton Academy pupil, won the Asian Scottish Business Award in November 2011. He launched Team Singh a year ago, with help from the PSYBT. Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: “East Ayrshire is already above the Scottish average in terms of positive outcomes for school leavers, but with this additional investment and assistance from our business leaders, partner organisations and schools, we want to raise the aspirations of our young people even higher”.
Hosting the event - and a great hit with the audience - was ‘accidental entrepreneur’ Iain Scott, who runs Cognitive Business Therapies. Recognised as an expert in how people learn to become entrepreneurs, Iain studied at Glasgow University and taught history for five years, before ‘in a fit of madness’ leaving to start his first business. He employed over 25 people and sold food to Harrods, top delicatessens and major supermarkets, before going on to develop his Cognitive Business Therapy process.
Iain encouraged the young people to take a different slant on being an entrepreneur. He said: “Most businesses start by accident, or when people get some kind of ‘shock’, such as being made redundant, or getting divorced, or some other major life change”. Guest entrepreneur and PSYBT award winner Patrick McDonald, Superior Catering and Leisure, spoke about his wide experience in business. The following Question Time session saw the expert panel kept on their toes by the enthusiastic young audience.
Geoff Leask, PSYBT Director of Operations, said: “PSYBT is delighted to be involved with the enterprise activities that East Ayrshire Council has given such prominence. This event is a great opportunity for senior pupils and college students to learn from young entrepreneurs and gain a real insight into opportunities that exist for them to have their own businesses in the not too distant future”
Pictured above right: Margaret Gibson ( PSYBT), Bernadette McGuire, Kilmarnock College (Vice Principal), Cllr Hugh Ross, Alan Ward (Acting Head of Schools), Geoff Leask (PSYBT), Cllr Jim Roberts, Cllr Douglas Reid, Emma Fitzpatrick (PSYBT), Louise Moore (PSYBT)
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Teachers join business leaders in enterprise push enterprise which has provided a turning point in the lives of over 4,000 young people since 2000. Mr Drummond highlighted the importance of ‘the power of one’ to change the world, the power of encouragement and the power of praise. He added: “As Mark Twain said – ‘One compliment can keep me going for a month’”. Alan Neish, Head of Planning and Economic Development in East Ayrshire, set the scene for the jobs future for young people in Ayrshire, highlighting growth areas of food and drink, tourism, manufacturing, renewables and marine and coastal opportunities.
Teachers travelled from secondary schools all over East Ayrshire for a seminar with business leaders in Grange Academy, Teachers had the opportunity to find out more Kilmarnock – another step forwards in in a series of economic workshops. East Ayrshire’s ambitious push to make Lisa Tennant, Executive Director of Taste school leavers ‘business ready’. Welcoming teachers from nine different secondary schools, Councillor Douglas Reid, said the meeting was an opportunity for them ‘to be inspired and informed’. The seminar’s keynote speech was made by Norman Drummond, founder and chairman of Columba 1400, an award-winning social
Ayrshire, discussed food and drink – and her aim to make Ayrshire the most visited food destination in Scotland.
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Darah Zahran, Skills Development Scotland, gave information on renewables and skills provision across the energy industry; Dr Peter Hughes, head of Scottish Engineering, focused on manufacturing; while the marine and coastal workshop was led by Kathleen Don, Tourism Development Officer, North Ayrshire Council. A rousing address by Dr Peter Hughes closed the seminar on a very positive note. His highoctane performance clearly conveyed his passion for engineering as a career – and the importance of the sector as a future growth area for jobs. Councillor Reid said: “Our Business Enterprise initiative is going from strength to strength. By joining the enthusiasm and commitment of teachers with the knowledge and insight of Business Leaders, we are able to forge strong links between education and the world of work. “At our recent ‘Dragons’ Den’ challenge for young entrepreneurs, it was striking that Sir Tom Hunter was keen to stress the importance of ‘inspirational teachers’ in influencing the future success of pupils - and I’m sure there are many such teachers in our schools. “There is no reason why East Ayrshire should not produce more young people to follow in Sir Tom’s footsteps. Not all school leavers have to be entrepreneurs – our BEF initiative also provides the skills for them to be excellent employees.
Daniel Steel, the Council’s Tourism Promotion “Our key message to young people is - have a Adviser, spoke about Ayrshire and Arran’s aim to ‘can do’ attitude and just be all you can be”. increase visitor spend by £70 million, visitor Pictured below: Norman Drummond, David Ross, numbers by 350,000 and to increase employment Alan Ward (Acting Head of Schools), Cllr Douglas Reid, supported by the sector by 900 jobs. Craig Stevenson, Alan Neish, Fred Wildridge, Headteacher, Grange Academy, Dr Peter Hughes