Young Enterprise Scotland

Pupils from East Renfrewshire had the chance to sell their products to local people in Barrhead on Tuesday 17 March 2009. 

The second year pupils, from Woodfarm High School, Mearns Castle High School, St Ninian’s High School, Barrhead High School and St Luke’s High School set up stalls with colourful displays of their products and tried out their selling skills in the reception of the East Renfrewshire Council offices!

The schools were each taking part in the Young Enterprise Stairway 2 Success programme which involves young people going through the 10 steps to setting up and running a business.

The trade fair event takes part halfway through the programme and gives young people a chance to interact with the public, sell their products and talk about what they have learned as a team.  The event is organised by David Baird from St Luke's High School.  Scroll down to see the companies in action and find out a bit more about them.

 “Swavy” from Woodfarm High School has a wide range of products such as pansies in gold pots, mini eggs, Bratz lipglosses, sweets and Mother’s Day glasses.  They were originally called “Crunch Busters” but “we changed our name to something ‘cooler’!”

There are 13 members in “Swavy” but “we chose the people we thought would be best to attend the trade fair based on their roles”, such as the Managing Director and Finance Director.  They had sold products previously in the school and their best-sellers were “Russian Christmas hats” which the young people themselves had been involved in sourcing. When asked if the Programme would make them consider setting up their own business in the future they said: “we were all just talking about that the other day!  We definitely would!”

“Chocabox” from Barrhead High School brought along their Easter range – a selection of mini Easter chicks, bouncy eggs (their best-sellers), mini decorated boxes with Creme eggs inside and things for Mother’s Day.  The team has 4 members and they all came along to the trade fair (although groups of 2 took it in turn to man the stand to stop them getting too tired!). 

The name, “Chocabox” reflects their overall theme of “chocolate in a box”.  After the trade fair, they were planning “to sell any products we have left over in school – everyone wants the bouncy eggs!”  Above are the Managing Director and Sales Director.

“St Luke’s Industries” had a wide selection of products targeted at the Mother’s Day market.  As the General Manager said: “we have mini treasure chests with chocolate eggs in them, mini baskets with eggs, cards, roses – what better for Mother’s Day!”  The team had a wide selection of hand-made cards which they had designed and put together themselves and had widened their product range to include Easter cards.  Apparently there were no disagreements within the company and everyone worked well together within the team!  They also worked well rotating the team members to each take turns manning the stand and selling to customers.

“Crafty Crew” from St Ninian’s had made a big effort for Mother’s Day.  Along with their best-selling greetings cards, they had lavender bags, candle holders, Mother’s Day face cloths - “We get the soap and roll it into a face cloth and then decorate it with special paper and a decorative leaf” - and more.  Although there are no specific company roles in the team, everyone works together to help one another and they had all worked hard to get all their products ready for the trade fair.  Their flower baskets were a particular hit with teachers who were buying them to brighten up their desks!  

 “Eco-Friends” was the company from Mearns Castle High School.  The Managing Director said: “we recycled in school to raise money to produce our range of bracelets and candle holders.  We got the wire and beads from our drama department and made the bracelets ourselves.”  The Eco-Friends stall was very much targeted at the female market: “we are mainly appealing to women with our jewellery and also because the candles are relaxing!”  The team chatted to customers to help them find their ideal bracelets and helped the male visitors to the stand to pick out something special for Mother’s Day.

The Stairway to Success Programme

YES uses a “train the trainers” approach for the Stairway 2 Success Programme and gives the teachers the skills to deliver the programme themselves with pupils in schools.  The programme runs from September until May and a YES trainer offers ongoing telephone support and up to 6 visits to make sure everything is ticking over.  The programme is funded by East Renfrewshire Council and undertaking the training for the programme counts towards a teacher’s CPD.

The Trade Fair and Awards lunch are organised by David Baird, teacher at St Luke’s High School.  David said “the teams all did very well and the standard was so high it is very difficult to decide on the winners!” 

‘Secret shoppers’ judge the categories at the trade fair such as the Best Sales Plan/Strategy, the Best Presented Stall, Most Imaginative Product/Service, Most Successful Business and the Best Sales Person for the one individual who uses the best “sales patter” to engage with the customers.

The winners will be announced at a Business Awards lunch at the end of the Programme in May 2009 and will receive certificates.

Well done to all of the teams who participated.