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Pupils from 16 Caithness and Sutherland primary schools will converge at the Weigh Inn Hotel in Thurso on Tuesday 25 March 2003 to take part in a schools enterprise challenge.

The pupils - all from P4 to P7 - will be given just four hours to come up with an original business idea, then design and make their product and devise a marketing plan.

Representatives of locally-based businesses and organisations will be on hand to offer the teams a wide range of knowledge and experience.  They include Bank of Scotland; Manpower Thurso; Clydesdale Bank; AEA Battery Systems; JIT Training; Sandra's Restaurant, Thurso; 20/20 Clearview, Wick; Rolls-Royce Vulcan; Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise and; North Highland College.

The event has been organised in conjunction with participating primary schools by the Schools Enterprise Programme.  This three-year initiative is managed by Careers Scotland and aims to develop in Scottish children the skills, qualities, and abilities that enable them to become 'enterprising' people in the widest sense of the word.

It should also instil in them a confident, 'can do' attitude, which they can apply to any situation, not just to the world of work.  Half the funding for the initiative has come from Scottish businesses and half from the Scottish Executive.

Jim Monteforte of the Schools Enterprise Programme, said he was delighted with the level of interest among schools in the area.  "The Schools Enterprise Programme is designed to equip pupils with the enterprising skills to enable them to have the best possible chance of
living economically and socially successful lives," Jim explained.

"If some pupils are also inspired by the enterprise projects they do in school, or by Challenge Days such as this, to later go on to start their own successful businesses then that is good for them and good for Scotland.

"It's great that so many schools, and so many children, are taking part in next week's event and who knows, we may even be able to spot the next Richard Branson or Michelle Mone." 

Awards will be presented at the end of the day (2.15 pm) to the overall winner and runner up.

Schools taking part in the project are:  Bower, Castletown, Crossroads, Dunbeath, Farr, Halkirk, Keiss, Lybster, Melvich, Mount Pleasant, Pennyland, Reay, South, Thrumster, Tongue and Watten.