Belmont team Iconic pictured at the Scottish Enterprise Awards
Belmont Academy's Young Enterprise Group, team Iconic scooped several awards at the Young Enterprise Scotland Scottish Awards 2012 − The Marketing Society Star School Award, The Quality Scotland Organisational Excellence Award and Emma Davidson, MD, jointly won the Institute of Directors Director of the Year Award.
Belmont Academy's Young Enterprise Group, formed as part of the Young Enterprise Company Programmed that gives students aged 15 to 19 years the opportunity to set up and run their own real company over the course of one academic year, created The Little Blue Frog book.
The Little Blue Frog book, which sends out a clear and very important message to three to six year olds – being different is acceptable.
The group of S6 students named their Young Enterprise company Iconic, they elected a board of directors from amongst their peers, raised share capital, marketed and financed their production. The book has been professionally printed in high definition colour on quality paper. Costing just £5.99 the book has been purchased by many primary schools in South Ayrshire and employees across the Council, the group are now taking the book to the wider market.
Councillor Margaret Toner, Lifelong Learning Portfolio Holder said: "I am so proud of what Iconic has achieved, they did their school proud.
"The experience that the students from Belmont academy having gained in creating and producing The Little Blue Frog is invaluable. They have enhanced their existing skills and quickly learned new ones to bring this project to fruition.
"Learning the theory of how businesses area created and operate is one thing, but putting all of that into practice clearly demonstrates to the pupils the hard work, ingenuity and dedication required to make a business successful. The Company Programme has enabled this group of students to develop their enterprise knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes in a business context. In addition they have enhanced their teamwork, communication, problem solving, managing risk, creativity, innovation and leadership skills.
"The Little Blue Frog is an outstanding creation with an important message and I am positive the success of the Belmont Academy students will inspire other young people to take part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme."
There were restrictions on the number of students in each team who could take part in the Scottish Young Enterprise Awards at national level, the team Iconic members who participated were Emma Davidson, Managing Director, Caitlin Bowbeer, Adam Falconer, Robert Hendren, Hannah Sosna and Greg Telfer.
Speaking on behalf of the group Emma Davidson, Managing Director of Iconic said: "We're excited at everyone's response to the book and to pick up so many awards at the national finals was amazing."
The Little Blue Frog book can be purchased from the Business Education Department at Belmont Academy either by cash or cheques made payable to Belmont Academy GP fund. The group are currently exploring opportunities to take the book to the wider market.
For more information about the Young Enterprise Group log on to http://company.young-enterprise.org.uk/company/