This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Young entrepreneurs in Harris
19/08/2003
An award-winning team of pupils from an Isle of Harris secondary school discussed their entrepreneurial flair with Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace today.
The pupils - from the Sir Edward Scott Secondary School - formed a business, Beartas, to develop and market a Harris Tweed tartan.
Last month, their efforts saw them land first prize in the Young Enterprise UK Finals - an annual event designed to showcase the best enterprise projects from young people across the country. And they only narrowly lost out in the European finals.
Taking the opportunity to meet the six-strong team of pupils during a visit to the school, Mr Wallace said:
"This is the first time in some 40 years of the awards that a Scottish team has enjoyed this level of achievement, having seen off competition from over 45,000 students.
"It's a tremendous feat and the young people involved have done their country proud. I am delighted to be here today to congratulate their success; they are a model of what enterprising 'can do, will do' attitudes can achieve.
"Supporting and encouraging enterprise in education is one of my top priorities. I want to foster the spirit shown by these young people through strategies such as Determined to Succeed, and encourage our young school children to become the creative and innovative citizens of tomorrow."
As part of his summer tour of the Western Isles, Mr Wallace also visited the Blue Reef Cottages at Scaristavore. The traditional cottages, overlooking Tarinsay and Scarista Beach, are providing a popular accommodation for tourists.
Later in the day, he visited the Initiative at the Edge (Iomairt Aig An Oir) offices at Drinishader. The project was established in 1998 to allow communities and local agencies to work together to implement projects which contribute to the area's economic and social development.
The Minister also went to the North Harris Estate, which was recently bought over by the community-led North Harris Trust .
Working with the John Muir Trust, and with substantial financial backing from the New Opportunities Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Trust was able to purchase 55,000 acres of the Estate.
Mr Wallace said:
"The way land in Scotland is owned and used has a major effect on people's lives, particularly in rural areas.
"We introduced the Land Reform Act to help empower communities in Scotland's rural areas, by giving them the right to acquire and control the croft land where they live and work."