Clean Sweep at Young Enterprise Scotland Area Finals for S6 Pupils

Running over the course of a full academic year, the Young Enterprise Company Programme asks young people from S5 and S6 to start up their own student company, running through the key milestones of developing an idea, conducting market research, creating the product or service, promoting that product and ultimately trading it.

Lomond pupils’ business concept came from a social enterprise point of view. Managing Director, Marsali explains: “Our Young Enterprise group, Seastainable, produces framed handmade sea glass art, designed by our artists who use natural sea glass collected from Scottish beaches during beach cleans. At the beginning of lockdown, we saw our local beach in Helensburgh become cleaner as the community collected rubbish on walks and less waste was being deposited. Recently, more litter has appeared again due to the increase in plastic product waste as a result of COVID-19. We want to help put an end to plastic pollution in Scotland starting with protecting our coasts. We are trying to reduce the problems caused by ocean debris and the danger that is inflicted on marine life as a result of this plastic pollution. By buying Seastainable artworks, you are contributing to the conservation of our coasts and protection of the local marine environment; for every sea glass collection, we collected litter from our local beaches, ultimately contributing towards our title of a Social Enterprise business”.

The Young Enterprise Company Programme process is a lengthy one that requires hard work and determination from August until at least May, and pupils therefore had to individually apply to be part of the team and demonstrate their commitment from the start.  The team have met every Tuesday after school since and have worked tirelessly on idea development, prototyping, brand development, production and sales.

The area final saw the team undergo a panel interview with the judges, a presentation of their business to the panel and other competing schools followed by questions from the judges on their presentation.  

Karen Ferguson, Head of Business and Economics at Lomond School commented: “The project is demanding both in terms of the time and commitment required from the pupils but also when it comes to the standards they are expected to meet. This team has worked particularly hard and crafted a truly unique business proposition. I could not be prouder of them, and they thoroughly deserve the Best Company accolade”.

We look forward to supporting them at the Scottish Finals in June.