Grange Academy take second place at the Sir Tom Hunter Challenge Final
Grange Academy took second place at the all-Ayrshire Sir Tom Hunter Challenge Final, after delivering a very professional pitch for their food waste app, Unwasteful.
Teams representing Ayr Academy, Belmont Academy - who took first place with their business idea for jewellery that could be used to detect if a drink had been spiked; Grange Academy, St Joseph’s Academy and Garnock Community Campus presented their business plans in the Dragons’ Den style contest, held at Centrestage in Kilmarnock, to the judges – Sir Tom Hunter, Gordon Rennie from Gro Coffee and Fiona McKenzie from Centrestage.
The Grange team from S4, namely Khulood, Emma and Heather, won £3000 for their school by creating the app that would allow users to track the use by or best before dates of purchased food. This would help stop ‘forgotten food’ in cupboards, fridges and freezers being binned, reducing food waste and providing economic benefits to local families.
Their business pitch was really thought provoking, with the young people talking about their climate change research and the fact that food waste sent to landfill, rather than being recycled, contributes significantly to the climate emergency.
Gordon Rennie was really impressed with their app, which he felt could be very beneficial within a commercial setting to help food businesses better manage their stock and be more profitable.
The team from St Joseph’s Academy took fourth place and £1500 for their school, with their business pitch for Magno-Maze, an innovative interactive wall mounted or table top game designed for people with autism. The game will be used within the Sensory Room at Rugby Park that is being planned by the Killie Trust for fans or relatives of fans to be used on match days.
Fiona McKenzie was very impressed with their design and was interested in the product for a sensory room planned for Centrestage for children and adults who are neurodiverse.
As part of his commitment to mentor local pupils, entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has over the last ten years, challenged youngsters to come up with ideas for products, innovations or businesses of the future.
Sir Tom Hunter, entrepreneur and philanthropist said: "All of the schools last night were winners; their drive, determination and innovation were an absolute inspiration.
“We now need to keep supporting these nascent entrepreneurs to be all they can be – they make all of us in Ayrshire very proud.”
Councillor Elaine Cowan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, Education and Skills and Culture said: “I am incredibly proud of our young people from Grange Academy and St Joseph’s Academy who showed great maturity and confidence pitching their business ideas at the grand final of the Sir Tom Hunter Challenge.
“Our teams pitched viable business ideas in a passionate way. They engaged the judges and the audience with their excellent presentations that were well researched and developed.
“Engagement with business is a key priority for our Council and is now securely embedded in the school curriculum. Our vision is to ensure that every pupil will develop the skills and abilities for a successful career.”
The Sir Tom Hunter Challenge formed part of the Council’s sector leading business enterprise programme, designed to develop entrepreneurial skills and help make young people ‘business ready’.