| Highland 2008 Winners |
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Dimension from
Dimension also won the Young Enterprise Scotland National Awards 2008, the Young Enterprise UK Finals 2008 and the first ever FedEx Award for Global Impact at the European Finals in Stockholm! Team Members: Alana Macpherson, Gareth Williams, Angela McCallum, Augusto Fernandez, Andrew MacKenzie, Paul Urquhart, Louise Shaw, Erin MacLeod, Patrick Boyer
Business Advisors: Roddy Dyce and Angus Morrison
Link Teacher: Margaret Rhynas
About Dimension
Dimension’s product was a 5-a-day fridge magnet and activity book to encourage healthy eating for children. They decided on their name after hearing a catchy dance-music song called “Dimension” and thought it sounded like a good name!
In order to decide on their product, they held a brainstorming session to discuss current issues. It was discovered that one in ten 6-year-olds is currently obese and that this number will rise to one in twenty by 2020. The group discussed ideas and came up with a product shortlist. They then issued questionnaires to pupils and parents to see which might be the most successful.
Having decided on their magnet, they decided that their aim was to put the fun back into 5-a-day and they created a 5-year-old character, Harry, to appeal to children.
There were 9 people in the company and the company structure was rather unique in that it involved them being all equal, which worked well.
They sold their product at trade fairs to parents and appealed directly to children by dressing up as carrots and giving out colourful stickers to encourage children to bring their parents to the stall!
Dimension have had a lot of local press coverage – featuring on the BBC website, in their local newspapers and have even had a local team – Ross County – endorsing their product. They have also marketed directly to nurseries etc. They created a website which had an on-line order form.
The team discovered that 80% of parents struggled to get kids to eat healthily. As there were an average of 1.5 children per household, the team decided their magnet would have space for one name only, and that the freedom to choose their own rewards would be left up to the parents.
The biggest challenge the company faced was staying motivated for the whole year, but they dealt with this by continually setting themselves more targets. They also stayed friends for the whole year! The Finals gave them something to work towards and focus on.
About YES
The team felt the main thing they’d learned from the programme was how to communicate – particularly with suppliers, for example when they made a printing error with the books.
They would recommend the programme to other students – if they have time! They felt the programme was most rewarding, if you were prepared to put the work in. The team also enjoyed the opportunities they had to travel – for example when they came third in a trade fair in Stratford Upon Avon.
The most challenging part was learning to communicate effectively and learning how to work together as a team.
Through doing the company programme they learned more about public speaking (something they didn’t think they would learn before going into it) and doing the programme has definitely made them thinking seriously about setting up their own business. Even if they decide not to go down this avenue, it has given them a great insight into how business works and they have learned more about the different roles within a company.
They had a worthwhile relationship with their business advisors and the meetings were good to help keep them motivated.
If they had to do it all again, they would be a bit more sales-focused, have a bit more time and recognise sales opportunities.
Awards 2008
OVERALL WINNERS 2008
Winners: Best Trade Stand
Runners-Up: Best Company Report
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