Budding tycoons urged to apply for super programme

Budding entrepreneurs in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are being invited to take part in a challenge loosely based on the BBC’s “The Apprentice” TV programme.

The Inspiring Enterprise Challenge will take place during two weeks of the summer holidays with 16 places up for grabs for senior school pupils.

The challenge will be similar to the TV programme in that pupils will take part in a number of business led challenges over two weeks, providing them with great experiences and talking points to include in CVs and interviews in the future, one big difference is that no-one is fired.

South Lana r k s h i re Council’s executive director of education resources, Jim Gilhooly, said: “In this current climate, young people need to stand out from the crowd and we hope to give successful candidates excellent examples of working with employers and opportunities to develop skills for work during the programme.

“The focus of the two weeks will be entrepreneurial, demonstrating to pupils that they have the skills to consider self- employment as an option in the future.

“Each year everyone taking part has worked extremely hard and came up with some excellent ideas and products.

“I hope as many senior pupils from schools across South Lanarkshire take up the chance to be part of this year’s challenge.

“Hopefully the taste of the business world gives them the appetite to go on and emulate the likes of Lord Sugar.”

The programme will run every week day from Monday, July 25 to Thursday, August 4.

Pupils will meet at council HQ and they will be required to make their own way there and back each day. Transport to and from the business locations, and lunch every day, will be provided.

The challenge is open to 16 pupils from S4/ 5/ 6 who are attending a South Lana rk s h i re Council Secondary school.

Interested pupils should get in touch with their deputy head teachers in the first instance.

The closing date for all applications is Friday, April 29, 2016.

For an application form email: eliot. jordan@ southlanarkshire.gov.uk

The programme is organised and managed by the council’s education resources and economic Development teams.

This is the fifth year of the programme and to date 64 candidates have taken part. One previous candidate, Olivia Conlon, has already started her own interior design company.