Students win cafe spot at new site
Two Lanarkshire students are setting up a new cafe after winning the opportunity to start their own business.
Bobbi Arnott and Olivia Muir, both from Motherwell, won a competition to start up their café enterprise in the new park at Ravenscraig.
North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) and New College Lanarkshire, in partnership with Business Gateway Lanarkshire, Young Enterprise Scotland ( YES) and North Lanarkshire Properties, ran the competition for students looking to inject creativity into helping their community.
The start- up opportunity was made possible through projects funded by the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
Since completing NQ Level 5 Craft Bakery and Level 6 Pastry Chef, Bobbi and Olivia are continuing their studies in HNC Professional Cookery Patisserie while preparing to start up their business when the park opens next year.
Their café will be a key feature of the new park, providing great food in an outdoor setting for the whole community to enjoy.
Bobbi said: “We are really looking forward to opening our café in the new park and playing our part in making it a great community facility.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to serve great food in what will be such a lovely setting.”
Olivia added: “In providing a range of food throughout the day including breakfast, lunch, hot drinks and snacks we hope our café will be a place that everyone visiting the park can enjoy, whether they’re coming to play sport, attend an event, visit the play area, meet friends and family or just sit and relax.”
The achievement was commended by Senior Project Manager at
NLC Jonathan Speed. He said: “Congratulations to Sarah, Bobbi and Olivia on their excellent business plans and innovative ideas,”
“We were very impressed with their competition entries and commitment to starting a business, and delighted that they now have the opportunity to put their ideas into practice here in North Lanarkshire.”
Professor Christopher Moore, Principal and Chief Executive of New College Lanarkshire, said:
“Sarah, Bobbi and Olivia represent the aspirations, creativity and energy of New College Lanarkshire.
“We s e n d t h e m o u r congratulations and very best wishes.
“We will look forward to supporting them on this very exciting journey.”
Advisers from Business Gateway Lanarkshire provided the students who took part in the competition with help and advice on developing their business plans and will continue to act as mentors to the winning businesses.
“Business Gateway Lanarkshire were delighted to be involved in the competition,” said Operations Director, Graeme Currie.
“The quality of all of the applications was extremely high.”
He added: “This is a great opportunity for the winners, and we look forward to supporting the success of these young people in the years to come.”