Highland Hospice and Social Enterprise Academy have launched a search to find the most business-savvy youngsters in the Highlands with the return of both Junior Highland Apprentice and Young Highland Apprentice competitions.
This is the third year that primary school children will be invited to submit teams to the Junior Highland Apprentice competition, while Young Highland Apprentice, for secondary school pupils, is now in its sixth year.
Six budding young entrepreneurs make up each team which will be given start-up costs to create their own enterprise to raise funds for Highland Hospice (£50 for Junior and £250 for Young.) The Social Enterprise Academy will support each school with a visit from one of their local social entrepreneur tutors, access to online teaching resources, a start-up loan and business plan templates.
Under the guidance of a teacher, teams have free range to develop their own appropriate business and can diversify as they wish, with the aim of making a return of at least 2:1.
In February 2019 each team will showcase their social enterprise venture to a panel of judges and the winning teams will be presented with a cash prize for their school. Sponsored by Tailormade Moves, this will be £250 for the Junior competition and £750 for the Young.
So far, schools who have committed to the competitions are Ullapool High School, Nairn Academy, Balloch Primary, Crown Primary, Kinlochbervie High School, Kingussie High, Ardgoure Primary, Farr Primary and Tain Royal Academy.
Ali McRitchie who owns the Head Gardener salon in Inverness will take the lead on judging the Young Apprentice with Colin Burke, Managing Director of Summer Isles Foods, leading on Junior Apprentice. The ladies from Tailormade Moves will also act as judges, joined by a delegate from Social Enterprise and Developing the Young Workplace.
Highland Hospice’s Community Fundraiser Katie Gibb said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Social Enterprise Academy again to deliver both of these fabulous competitions. As Highland Hospice is a vital service for the whole of the Highland community, this is a great way for us to raise awareness about our services within the younger generation.”
Rachel Farmer, Highlands and Islands Education Co-ordinator for Social Enterprise Academy added, “We hope that many schools will be inspired to put teams forward for the challenge and are really looking forward to working with our young people and seeing the business ideas that they come up with.”
For more information on Highland Hospice’s events and fundraising opportunities please visit www.highlandhospice.org.uk or call the Fundraising Team on 01463 246473.
To enquire about the Social Enterprise programme please contact Rachel Farmer rachelfarmer@socialenterprise.academy
