News 2021

Inspiring Social Entrepreneurs: Dundee’s Primary Pupils Shine at “Reach for the Stars” Dragons’ Den Event

On 2nd October 2024, Dundee’s young innovators took centre stage at the V&A Dundee, presenting their social enterprise ideas at the “Reach for the Stars” Dragons’ Den competition. This exciting event brought together five primary schools from across the city, each pitching to an expert panel of ‘dragons’ from a variety of industries.

The panel included Michael Ward, Commercial Manager at Trade-Mart Dundee Stars; Natalie Marr, Employer Liaison Officer at DYW Tay Cities; Jolene Guthrie, representing V&A Dundee; and Joan Alexander, Education Manager at Social Enterprise Academy. Their task was to evaluate innovative concepts designed to benefit the supporters of the Dundee Stars Ice Hockey team.

The young participants showcased a range of creative ideas, inspired by a workshop led by a social entrepreneur. With support from the V&A Dundee, the students explored real-world challenges and devised their own social enterprises. This empowering experience encouraged them to think about the causes they care about, providing them with a platform to become real social change makers.

The overall winners of the day were Rosebank Primary School, whose innovative pitch won over the judges. Their idea – A loyalty card scheme rewarding fans with wristbands with inspirational quotes, gloves and hats -aims to both engage Dundee Stars fans and raise awareness for mental health whilst encouraging increased attendance at the ice hockey games. The Dundee Stars team will now work with Rosebank to bring their idea to life.

Fostering Skills for the Future

Throughout the competition, pupils from the participating schools: Glebelands, St Peter & Paul’s, Rowantree, Tayview, and Rosebank, developed vital skills in public speaking teamwork and enterprise development.

DYW Tay Cities, sponsor and partner in this initiative, is committed to supporting young people in gaining the skills and experience necessary to succeed in the world of work. Lisa Laidlaw, Regional Lead at DYW Tay Cities, expressed her pride in the event, saying:

“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.

“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.”

This event exemplified the power of collaboration, with partners such as Dundee Stars, V&A Dundee, the Social Enterprise Academy, Dundee City Council, and the Scottish Government coming together to inspire and support the next generation of social entrepreneurs. 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.”

A Community of Support

Michael Ward, Commercial Manager for Trade-Mart Dundee Stars, was impressed with the ideas put forward:

“Dundee Stars are delighted to collaborate on this amazing event, hoping to spark creativity and entrepreneurship in our local young people. 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.”

The collaborative nature of this event was emphasised by Audrey May, Executive Director of Children and Families Services at Dundee City Council:

“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.”

Looking Ahead

Following their success in the Dragons’ Den competition, the schools involved will continue to develop their social enterprises and work towards a Social Enterprise Schools Award. These awards will be presented at a national ceremony in Edinburgh in June 2025.

DYW Tay Cities is proud to have been a part of this inspiring initiative, helping to provide real-world learning experiences that empower young people to become the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow.

Recently, we had the pleasure of organising The Hospitality Trail, a dynamic event aimed at showcasing career opportunities in the hospitality sector to pupils from Dundee and Angus schools. Held across two separate days, with one dedicated to Angus and the other to Dundee schools, this event was a hands-on journey through some of Dundee’s prominent hospitality hotspots.

The students, ranging from second to sixth year, spent the day visiting three key locations in Dundee city centre: Apex Hotel and Spa, RRS Discovery, and Dundee Science Centre. Each stop offered a unique workshop designed to give students a glimpse into different aspects of the hospitality industry.

At the Apex Hotel and Spa, located in City Quay, students participated in a series of 20-minute workshops. These included:

• Cupcake decorating with the Apex catering staff.
• Towel animal making with the housekeeping team.
• Mocktail creation with the bar staff.

These workshops gave the pupils a chance to engage with a wide array of hospitality roles—from culinary to housekeeping and customer service.

Next, at Discovery, the pupils enjoyed an insightful tour of the iconic ship and museum, followed by a workshop where they brainstormed event ideas that could be hosted at the venue. This session encouraged creative thinking and event management skills.

The final stop on the trail was the Dundee Science Centre, where pupils took part in a marketing workshop led by the Centre’s marketing team. They explored how to promote the centre, including the creation of TikTok videos that may even be featured on the Science Centre’s social media! Additionally, the students had the opportunity to try out the various exhibits and activities, making this a truly interactive experience.

Throughout the day, the pupils explored the diversity of career paths in the hospitality industry, many of which they may not have previously considered. The hands-on nature of each workshop helped them connect with different roles, all while having fun and discovering the possibilities of working in hospitality.

We were truly honoured to be part of the launch of Tina McGuff’s school tour on Monday 16th September at her former high school, Braeview Academy. Tina’s story is one of resilience, hope, and strength, and we couldn’t be more excited for her to share it with pupils across Tay Cities.

The launch at Braeview Academy was a special moment, as Tina stood before young people who are now at the same stage in life where she once faced her own challenges. Her story of overcoming personal struggles may resonate with students and by speaking openly and honestly about her experiences, Tina is not only inspiring but also offering hope and guidance during a crucial time in their lives.

At DYW Tay Cities, we are incredibly proud to have played a role in helping Tina bring her message to schools. We’re thrilled to say that many schools in Dundee and Angus have already invited Tina to talk with their pupils. Tina’s powerful message of mental health awareness and resilience is something we know will make a lasting impact on the young people she meets.

We look forward to seeing Tina’s school tour expand to other regions of Scotland and are excited for even more young people to benefit from her story. It’s an honour to support her on this important journey, and we can’t wait to see the positive ripple effect she’ll create across the country.