The ‘Inspiring Enterprise Challenge’, supported by Bright Yellow Thinking and South Lanarkshire Council’s Planning & Economic Development Services, received £5,000 from UKSE.

The programme is aimed at 15 to 17-year-old school pupils across the area and was established six years ago to promote enterprise and business start-up. Based on the BBC programme, The Apprentice, the participants work on challenges set by local businesses.

Throughout the two-week long programme, the young people are awarded points for creativity, teamworking, decision making and so on. This year’s tasks included designing a new product for local biscuit manufacturer Border Biscuits, a fundraising challenge for Kilbryde Hospice and an entrepreneurial challenge set in the board rooms of Scottish Gas. Winners will be announced at an awards dinner to be held next week in Bothwell Castle Golf Club.

UKSE’s funding helped support participants’ transport to business venues, laptops to work on and prizes for the winners.

The challenge runs during the school summer holidays, and through working with experienced business people and successful organisations, students gain knowledge of how businesses work and develop the essential skills that are required in the workplace.

Anne Clyde, regional manager at UKSE said: “It’s fantastic to see the Inspiring Enterprise Challenge enter another year. It’s a great initiative that prepares young people to enter the world of business, teaching them the skills that they may not have the chance to learn at school.

“UKSE is proud to support such an entrepreneurial programme, and hope it continues in the future. We’d like to wish the participants the best of luck at the upcoming awards ceremony.”

Helen Salt, director of Bright Yellow Thinking said: “We are very proud of our Inspiring Enterprise Challenge, and are thrilled to see it go ahead for another year, thanks to the funding UKSE has provided.

“The programme allows young people to develop their business skills, learn how to negotiate and understand how businesses can grow. It’s had enormous success, with one candidate starting an interior design company, following her success in an earlier programme.”