Young entrepreneurs from 19 primary schools across Glasgow took to the stage at Hampden Park for an event focused on reducing, reusing and recycling. The Circular Economy Showcase, hosted by Young Enterprise Scotland with support from the ScottishPower Foundation, gave youngsters the opportunity to present their enterprise projects to their peers, teachers and a panel of judges.
The showcase marked the culmination of work carried out by the business-savvy youngsters on the Circular Economy Programme (run by YES and the SP Foundation).
Groups from schools across Glasgow took to the stage and wowed the panel of judges which included Rebecca Ricketts from Circular Glasgow, Scott Kennedy and Fergus Moore from Revive Eco, Phil Duffield from the ScottishPower Foundation and Fiona Craig from Zero Waste Scotland.
After all of the presentations, the judges decided on five award winners – Haghill Primary, St Monica’s Primary in Pollock, Ashpark Primary School in Carnwadric, St Vincent’s Primary in Thornliebank, and St Martha’s Primary in Balornock.
In the Circular Economy programme, pupils were asked to consider how businesses can run effectively and successfully in a world with finite resources by making their own sustainable product. Sustainability sessions showed youngsters how to eliminate waste and reduce dependency on natural resources, and addressed the environmental impact of manufacturing processes.
YES Circular Economy programme executive Marie Leck said: “We saw so much confidence and enthusiasm from the young people and every presentation was fantastic. So many people are nervous about public speaking and the young entrepreneurs really pushed themselves and took on this challenge with aplomb.
“The showcase was a fantastic celebration of all the hard work young people put into their enterprise projects and they should all be very proud of all they have achieved.”
Haghill Primary took the ScottishPower Foundation’s Overall Business Idea of the Year award for PenCycle – a project which sends used pens for recycling.
St Monica’s Primary in Pollock took the Young Enterprise Scotland award for Innovation for its O-Waste project which 
customises old clothes, and Ashpark Primary School in Carnwadric took the Zero Waste Scotland community award for its Rebikable idea which reuses old bikes.
St Vincent’s Primary in Thornliebank won the Circular Glasgow commercial award for Squishies For Life which turns stress toys into cushions, and St Martha’s Primary in Balornock took the SEPA environmental award for its Snoogle Garden project which encourages people to grow their own fruit and veg.
Phil Duffield from the ScottishPower Foundation said: “It has been extremely exciting to be a part of the judging process and witness the entrepreneurial spirit of Scotland’s young people, all with the environment front of mind.
“The ScottishPower Foundation is proud to support the Circular Economy Challenge in its work to inspire young people to work towards building a sustainable future. Congratulations to all those involved.”
The ScottishPower Foundation is a charitable organisation which aims to enhance the quality of life in local communities by supporting causes close to people’s hearts, such as developing the UK’s future generation and fighting against climate change.
The Circular Economy Challenge is one of 17 different charitable projects selected by the ScottishPower Foundation from across the UK to receive a slice of funding totalling more than £1m this year.
https://www.scottishpower.com/pages/about_the_scottishpower_foundation.aspx
