High school wins national enterprise award

Pupils from a North Sutherland secondary school have taken the top prize in a national trade fair at Stratford-upon-Avon.

“Off Our Rockers” from Farr High School took part in the Stratford-upon-Avon Young Enterprise National Trade Fair on Saturday 20 March. Not only did they sell their entire stock of hand made rocking animals they also won the first prize of £300.

The annual National Trade Fair is organised by South Warwickshire Young Enterprise Area Board and this year attracted 60 young enterprise companies from around the UK.

Head Teacher Jim Johnston said: “I am absolutely delighted that the team won the competition. They had a very strong incentive to sell their wares. Our link teacher Dave Charnley drove down with the stock in our minibus while myself and the team took a one-way flight. In order to get home they had to sell their entire stock so that they could get seats on the bus back home! Through their business acumen they struck a deal with a local toy shop, sold off their leftover stock and thus won the competition.”

Linda Thomas, of Highland and Moray Area Board Young Enterprise Scotland said: “This is a tremendous achievement.  Our warmest congratulations go to the team, Dave Charnley their link teacher, David Knight their adviser, and everyone at Farr who has supported them.”

This achievement follows on from their recent success at Inverness Trade Fair in December, 2009. In 2008 and 2009 Farr High School won the Award of ‘Best Company in Scotland at the Young Enterprise Scotland Company Programme Finals in Glasgow.