Scotland's richest man yesterday launched a scholarship scheme aimed at developing the next generation of leaders.
Sir Tom Hunter has set up the Hunter Leadership Programme to fund 10 young people through a nine-month international course.
Participants, aged from 16 to 19, will be offered a range of activities and experiences including a secondment to the Clinton Global Initiative in New York and three weeks' working in a rural community in Malawi.
Sir Tom said his foundation was already helping disadvantaged youths, but the new programme was specifically aimed at exceptional youngsters, regardless of their background. Eight students have already completed a pilot scheme.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the most talented individuals we can find to develop themselves. Our message to young people seeking to join this programme is that Scotland is your home, but the world is your stage so make a mark on it," said Sir Tom. "There are two strands to this in that we hope this programme will develop the self-confidence and experience of the individuals involved to allow them to develop to their full potential and raise their own ambitions.
"However, we also want to show people that through their own endeavours they can make a real difference to the lives of others in the world."
Niall Grant, 17, a student on the pilot scheme, said the experience had raised his ambitions.
"Sir Tom Hunter only does things on a world scale, so the programme can only really be described as world class," he said.
"Young people in Scotland can make a difference and I can make a difference - if we work together the difference we can make is massive."
Organisers stressed that the programme is not just for academic students, but for those with leadership potential in a range of fields from business to the arts.
The judges include screenwriter Richard Curtis and violinist Nicola Benedetti, as well as Harvard professor Jim Kim and Siobhan Forey, head of HR at Arcadia. Applications can be made online at hunterleadership.co.uk.
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