Awarded for their flair for business, Solas from Sir E Scott School, based on the Isle of Harris, today (11th June 2002) beat off competition from 15 other schools across the country and won this year's The Royal Bank of Scotland Young Enterprise Scotland final. The Awards were held at The Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh.

The award, which is the key to recognising Scotland's most dynamic young entrepreneurs, was won by Solas for producing calendars of Harris scenery, the company also held an art exhibition to raise further funds. They will now go on to represent Scotland in the Young Enterprise UK final in London this coming July.

Benny Higgins, chief executive of Retail Banking at The Royal Bank of Scotland said: "Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) fosters the entrepreneurial spirit in young people which is so important for developing an understanding of business practice today. As The Royal Bank of Scotland supports both financial education and enterprise, it is only natural that our support should extend to YES. The national awards recognise the skills these young people have acquired which are so important for creating a successful and skilled workforce in the future."

The Royal Bank of Scotland Young Enterprise Scotland Awards, which were hosted by Jackie Bird, recognise the hard work of aspiring young business people within secondary schools across the country. The award was presented to the most successful company participating in the YES Company programme. The programme offers the pupils, aged 15 to 19 years, practical experience in running their own company, with support from a teacher and a volunteer business advisor from the local community.

YES provides materials to help start-up the companies in the form of a business kit together with initial training for the teachers and the business advisors. The YES companies operate over 1 or 2 years, and aim to teach the young people skills in the areas of finance, marketing, manufacturing and administration.

Each YES company that participated in this years overall award was invited to submit a business report and a set of accounts for judging. All the companies involved in today's event made a short presentation and highlighted the highs and lows of the YES year.

There were also awards won for

• the best display – Gifts O'Galloway from Castle Douglas High School, Dumfries and Galloway. Produced gift hampers show casing locally produced goods.
• best presentation – Fyne Designs from Lochgilphead High School, Argyll and Bute. Produced an On-Line Business Directory.
• and best report – also won by Solas from Sir E Scott School.

Marion Morrison, managing director, from Solas commented:
"Working as part of a YES company has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and meet a variety of different people. It has also taught me to take responsibility for my own actions in the business environment. It leaves me feeling a sense of achievement that I hope will help me to succeed in my future career."

The judging panel for this year's final comprised a wealth of business experienced from across Scotland who looked for innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to the running of the companies along with creativity and enthusiasm. The company members were all judged on their ability to communicate as a group and had to demonstrate their team skills in marketing, sales, customer focus and problem solving.

YES provides secondary school pupils, both in mainstream education and those with special needs, with a unique exposure to business, by teaching young people to value themselves, others, their education and the role of business and industry in Scotland.

If you are a young person who would like to become involved with YES or you would like to become an area board member please contact Lynn Hendry on Tel: 0141 548 4930

Notes to Editors

• Photography from today's event can be emailed to the picture desk on your request.
• The following schools were involved in this years Royal Bank of Scotland Young Enterprise Scotland Awards:
  Lochgilphead High School, Argyll and Bute
  Garnock Academy, Ayrshire
  Eyemouth High School, Borders
  Graeme High School, Central
  Castle Douglas High School, Dumfries and Galloway
  Lenzie Academy Dunbartonshire
  Lochgelly High School, Fife
  All Saints RC Secondary, Glasgow
  St Machar Academy, Grampian
  Fortrose Academy, Highland
  St Bride's High School, Lanarkshire
  Bathgate Academy, Lothian
  Kirkwall Grammar School, Orkney
  St Andrews Academy, Renfrewshire
  Forfar Academy, Tayside
  Sir E Scott School, Western Isles
• Judges for yesterdays event were:
  For the report – Bernard Dunn, MacDonald Reid Scott; Douglas Odam, Rangers Football Club; Suzanne Dobson, ICSA; Anne Wexelstein, Ernst and Young; Joe Linney, 3ED and Ann Scott, Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust.
  For the display – Willie MacLeod, Visit Scotland; Amanda Cornish, SQA and Ken Dalton, FaberMaunsell.
  For the Presentation – John Boyle, Hamilton Portfolio; Allan Watt, Jason Oakley and Derek Millar all from The Royal Bank of Scotland.
• The Royal Bank of Scotland has provided £60 000 in support for the Young Enterprise Scotland Awards

This information has been issued by:
Jane Smith at The Business
Tel: 0131 718 6022