Abertay University hosts senior Tayside pupils for a hands-on business experience

School pupils from across Tayside strengthened their entrepreneurial skills during a business-focused session hosted at Abertay University on Thursday 27 November 2025.

The event was part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme which sees S5 and S6 pupils from Orkney down to the Scottish Borders create and run real businesses over the academic year. Young Enterprise and the University of Strathclyde have a long-standing partnership, with the university providing a reflective exam for programme participants every February.

Last year, a new event was piloted by Strathclyde Inspire and Young Enterprise, which was expanded this year through partnerships with other universities across Scotland, with the Abertay session marking the final stop in a series of three roadshows.

The programme gives pupils the chance to create and manage a real business, taking on leadership roles, developing products and services, and launching them to market. Participants also have the opportunity to gain an SCQF Level 6 qualification worth 30 SCQF points (21 UCAS points).

The Abertay session included a reflection and planning workshop, an entrepreneurial challenge delivered by Strathclyde Inspire, and a guest speaker presentation by Simon Fraser, Enterprise Officer at Abertay. The day concluded with a networking and competency workshop designed to link the skills developed through the programme to future career opportunities.

Schools attending were Grove Academy, Monifieth High School, and Webster’s High School. A highlight of the afternoon was a speed networking session, where students met industry professionals from a range of sectors to learn about career paths and roles.

Dr Emilee Simmons, Head of Dundee Business School, said:

It’s fantastic to see pupils engaging with real-world business challenges and developing the confidence to think creatively about their future careers. These sessions give young people a practical understanding of entrepreneurship, teamwork and problem-solving—skills that are vital in today’s economy. By connecting schools, universities and industry, we’re helping to build a pipeline of talent that will drive innovation and growth across Scotland.

Eloise McNeaney, Programme Lead at Young Enterprise said:

Young Enterprise could not be as successful or impactful without our partnerships with Universities across Scotland.  We want our programme participants to understand the transferable enterprising skills for life and work that they are developing on the programme (often without realising!) and link them to future careers, industries and degree pathways.  A huge thanks to the Dundee Business School team for the space, speakers and networkers who ensured this collaboration was a success!

The event took place ahead of the Tayside Trade Fair on Saturday 29 November at The Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee, where the student businesses showcased their products and services to the wider community.