Dundee Primary Pupils Impress at Reach for the Stars Social Enterprise Dragons’ Den Competition

Today, 02 October 2024, five primary schools from across Dundee pitched their impressive social enterprise ideas to an expert panel at the Social Enterprise Schools: Dragons’ Den competition at the V&A, Dundee.

The panel of ‘dragons’ included Michael Ward, Commercial Manager, Trade-Mart Dundee Stars, Natelie Marr, Senior Schools Coordinator at DYW Tay Cities, Jolene Guthrie of Jo-Ami representing V&A Dundee and Joan Alexander Education Manager, Social Enterprise Academy.

The Dragons’ Den event provided an opportunity for young people to design an item that would benefit the supporters of Dundee Stars. With the support of the V&A Dundee, the young people received an input from Gary Jamieson Schools Development Officer, V&A Dundee.

The young people also received a fully funded pupil workshop, by the Scottish Government, led by a social entrepreneur whereby they explored what they care about in the world. They are then supported to set up a social enterprise to tackle the cause, making them social change makers.

Dundee Stars are providing the young people with a unique opportunity of working with the winners to help produce the item, as well as providing a retail outlet.

The overall winners of the day were Rosebank Primary School. Their idea is to make wrist bands with inspirational quotes, gloves and hats. They have also come up with the idea of a loyalty card which has a joint benefit of encouraging people to attend the ice hockey, as well as supporting their social cause, mental health.

Throughout the process the young people are developing valuable skills that they can take into the workplace. Hopefully the experience will inspire the young people.

Our partner and sponsor Lisa Laidlaw Regional Lead, Developing the Young Workforce Tay Cities said “Across Tayside there is a pressing need to make sure young people have the right skills and experience to enter fulfilling careers and grow our local economy. Here at Developing the Young Workforce Tay Cities we facilitate meaningful partnerships between business and education to provide work-based learning opportunities for young people and better prepare them for their future career. Todays “Reach for the Stars Dragons Den” is an excellent example of partnership working with the positive outcome of helping our local young people and economy.

Pupils are running their social enterprises as part of the Social Enterprise Schools programme, delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, which empowers young people to affect social change in their communities, while developing key core employability and entrepreneurial skills for the future.

Gary Jamieson Schools Development Officer, V&A, Dundee. said “Working collaboratively with such enthusiastic and inspiring people across different organisations makes a huge difference to the learning experience the children receive. I was blown away with the quality of the pitches, it was clear they had researched and delivered the design brief to create a product that was beneficial to the health and well-being of Stars fans”.

Audrey May Executive Director of Children and Families Services at Dundee City Council

“I am delighted to be opening the ‘Reach for the Stars’ Dragons Den event at the V&A.  It’s great to see the collaboration between the V&A, DYW Tay Cities, Dundee Stars and the Social Enterprise Academy coming together with our Dundee schools to inspire our children and young people by giving them the opportunity to enter into the world of Social Enterprise and have the chance to be real social entrepreneurs.    By showing our young people how they can contribute to the world, make it a better place, and help others along the way by using their creativity to question the status quo and exploit new opportunities, we will help them to develop the skills that will stand them in good stead for their future life chances and grow as effective contributors, responsible citizens and very successful learners in Dundee, Scotland and beyond.”

Natelie Marr, Employability Liaison Officer for Dundee City

“DYW are about inspiring young people to draw form their own likes and experiences to understand the different ways they can grow and learn from the experiences they are trying at school and events like they have attended today!”

Michael Ward Commercial Manager for Trade-Mart Dundee Stars;

“Dundee Stars are delighted to collaborate on this amazing event with the hope to spark creativity and entrepreneurship in our local young people.

As a family business, our aim is to always engage and support our local community and this was an innovative initiative, that we are extremely excited about and hope will be the first of many.

I was thrilled to see the varied ideas that our young people had. Their confidence delivering their pitches and the power points they produced were truly excellent and they should all be immensely proud of themselves.

I look forward to working with the winning school, to bring their ideas/products to reality, while supporting their social cause at the same time.

Finally, I would like to thank all our partners, who made the day such a great success.”

Schools who presented at the Reach for the Stars Dragons’ Den competition:

Following today’s Dragons’ Den, the schools involved will work towards a Social Enterprise Schools Award, which will be presented at a national ceremony in Edinburgh in June 2025.

For more information on how to get involved in Social Enterprise Schools, please visit: https://socialenterprise.academy/social-enterprise-schools-scotland/