Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs at Blairgowrie High School

Release Date: Wednesday 1 April 2026

Image courtesy of Blairgowrie High School

Volunteers from Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT) attended Blairgowrie High School’s Step-Up With Enterprise event recently, representing the Blairgowrie Business Focus Group and helping young people learn about the world of entrepreneurship.

The event at the Beeches Road school was organised by the Developing Youth Workforce team and Entrepreneur Me.

Developing Youth Workforce is employer-led and aims to make it easier for employers to connect with young people in schools and colleges across Scotland while supporting young people to develop the skills required for the workplace. Entrepreneur Me is a Scottish business that runs enterprise events and workshops for young people.

Around 150 young people at Blairgowrie High School, mainly in first year, took part in the workshop, with several local community groups and organisations and businesses – including Blairgowrie and District Rotary Club, the A Proctor Group, First Aid Perthshire and Happy to Chat Happy to Listen - took part, role-playing as ‘buyers’ or ‘suppliers’.

The young people were given a notional £20 to set up small companies, buy materials and make various items such as postcards, greetings cards and table centre pieces, which they then had to ‘sell’ to the buyers, with the aim of making a profit.

BRDT Trustee Laura Gardiner leads the Blairgowrie Business Focus Group, run by BRDT, which brings local businesses together to discuss concerns in the town and coordinates events and activities to support local businesses.

She said: “We were thrilled to be invited to take part in Blairgowrie High School’s Step-up With Enterprise workshop and really enjoyed what was a very busy day.

“The young people were very enthusiastic and engaged throughout the session, and seemed to enjoy learning about the highs and lows of running a business, getting a real taste of entrepreneurship and what that can look like.

“BRDT is a community-led organisation working with and within the community to make Blairgowrie and Rattray stand out and be noticed as a caring and vibrant town, and it has been really encouraging to see some new shops and businesses opening up in the town in recent weeks and months.

“Having spent a day with pupils at Blairgowrie High School it is fair to say that the future of our town and the businesses looks to be in safe hands!”

The Blairgowrie Business Focus Group is keen to hear from anyone who runs, or has run, a business and has ideas or suggestions for what could be done to further enhance the business offering in the town.

For further details about the Business Focus Group and how to get involved, email [email protected]. Alternatively, follow ‘Blairgowrie Business Focus Group’ on Facebook for updates on events and activities.

For further information or media enquiries, please contact Clare McMicking on 07514 343 042 or [email protected]

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