Sir E Scott Pupils Are National Young Enterprise Winners!

15 July 2003

Students from Sir E Scott School in Tarbert, Harris and their innovative business, ‘Beartas’, have stormed to victory in the 2003 finals of the Young Enterprise UK Awards which took place in the Savoy Hotel, London, on July 14th, beating 12 other regional finalists for the historic honour - the first Scottish winners ever in the forty-year history of the event.

"Beartas" with their award

The group of Harris sixth year pupils formed Beartas to develop, market and sell Isle of Harris tartan as part of the Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) Company Programme. Following their Scottish final victory in June, hopes were high for the business-minded group; Sir E Scott became the only school in YES history to win the Scottish Finals two years in succession, and they received awards for Best Presentation and Best Display. Their national win now establishes them as the UK representatives for the European finals, to be held in the Savoy Hotel this Thursday (17th) and Friday (18th).

The students were flown to London in a private jet to compete in the finals, collected by limousines, and were whisked away for an audience with Gordon Brown, Chancellor of Exchequer, following today’s announcement. They were then shown the Houses of Parliament, and invited for a meal with the event’s organisers.

Chairman of the Comhairle's Education and Children's Services Committee, Norman L MacDonald, hailed their success, saying;
"This is a truly marvellous achievement. Beartas are a great credit to themselves, to Sir E Scott and to all who have helped and advised them along the way."

The team gained an invaluable contribution from their two advisers; David Cameron and councillor for Harris West, Morag Munro who accompanied the group to London. Mrs. Munro added;
"This is not only a first for Harris or the Western Isles, but a first for Scotland! To win at the UK finals is a fantastic achievement, following Sir E Scott's second successive win in the Scottish finals in June. There are only around 150 pupils in the secondary roll; proving a school of this size can compete on a national level and win. I'd also like to take this opportunity to pay a personal tribute to the Beartas team members, and to my fellow advisers who have been first-class."

Archie Campbell, Chairman of the Comhairle's Sustainable Development Committee said;
"Well done Beartas! This success just shows the strength of entrepreneurial spirit flourishing in the young people of the islands. Our role in the future is to foster and encourage that spirit, so that today's Young Enterprise winners are able to develop and become tomorrow's business leaders in the Western Isles."

Roddy Macleod, Chairman of Western Isles Area Board, said;
“This is a fantastic achievement for Sir E Scott School and Beartas - this is the second year Sir E Scott has represented Scotland in the UK Finals and I’m sure they have a prosperous future ahead of them.”

Ellis Macleod, from the Education Department, added;
“The Area Board are extremely proud of Beartas; who represented not only their school but the whole Western Isles at the highest level. We wish them great success at the European Finals.”

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk