SIX pupils from Glasgow schools reached the regional finals of a new youth enterprise competition in the city last night.
Make It Happen has been developed by social enterprise Bad Idea and is aimed at inspiring young people to launch their own business ideas.
The competition gives 13 to 16-year-olds the opportunity to develop their ideas, raise funding and receive business support and mentoring and has been developed in partnership with the University of Glasgow.
It is the first of its kind to give a university-accredited certificate to the young people who take part.
A total of 55 pupils from Drumchapel, John Paul, St Andrew's, Kings Park, Springburn, Smithycroft and Bannerman secondary schools took part in early rounds of the competition. Make It Happen launched in April this year and pupils sent in ideas for products and services to Bad Idea.
Ideas were shortlisted and successful pupils took part in a four-day workshop in Govan.
Pupils went through to a semi-final where they presented business ideas to a panel of judges who are business experts.
The overall regional winner was Markus Hyka, 13, of St Andrew's RC Secondary School, who developed Talk2Teacher. He won £750 and a place in the national final where £3,000 is up for grabs.
Runner-up was Prabhjot Singh, 12, of John Paul Academy for Phone in the Box, followd by Ross McFarlane, 15, from Smithycroft Secondary School, Mary Olaleye, 12, of John Paul Academy and Taylor Cuthill, 14, from Drumchapel High.
They were all competing for a share of £1,500, though none of them came away empty-handed as the pot was divided into various cash prizes.
Anthony Gerrard, chief executive of Bad Idea, said: "We've been blown away by the ideas and talent we've seen from young people across the city.
"A huge reward for us at Bad Idea is seeing how far pupils come in developing entrepreneurial skills in such a short space of time."
The judging panel included Gordon Sloan, chairman of Glasgow Housing Association, the sponsor, Derek Bond, managing director of Squareknot and Marc Shenken, tax partner at Scott-Moncrieff.
Mr Bond added: "It was a very tough decision because they are presented extremely well. Markus stood out the most."
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