Renfrew school kids powering the future

Local pupils have taken part in a pioneering sustainability challenge.

Renfrew High pupils joined seven other teams from schools across the Glasgow region in taking part in the Powering Futures Schools Challenge.

The young people were tasked with finding innovative and sustainable solutions to five real-world challenges facing businesses today.

The organisations which set those challenges were Scottish Water, EV charging experts Urban Fox, British Gas, Newsquest and The Scottish Government.

They each asked students to look at ways to reduce water consumption, achieve netzero targets for sports clubs and schools, improve transport connectivity and create trusted media on climate change.

The pupils were asked to research the challenges and collaborate to come up with creative solutions.

Drawing on guidance from industry mentors, they presented their ideas to a panel of expert judges including leaders at Smarter Grid Solutions, entrepreneurs, Net-Zero experts from The University of Glasgow, Transport

Scotland and consultants at a showcase event held at Drumchapel High School - earning a SCQF Level 6 qualification at the end of the process.

Natalie Don, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, said:“It’s great to see pupils at Renfrew High getting involved with the Powering Futures Challenge, helping them to develop enhanced skills and abilities by taking on real world sustainability challenges, collaborating on a solution, and presenting it to a live panel of industry judges.

“With climate change being one of the biggest challenges we are facing as a society, this crucial knowledge of green skills, resource-efficiency, and sustainability will benefit the pupils hugely in their future careers.”

She added: “It is also encouraging that the pupils will gain a SCQF Level 6 qualification upon completion of the course.”

The Powering Futures Schools Challenge has seen 643 pupils from 43 schools across Scotland participate in 2023-2024 - with Powering Futures aiming to engage a million young people in the programme by 2030.