Kingussie High School S2 Startup Challenge – June 2025

In June 2025, Kingussie High School launched an exciting and immersive initiative for its S2 pupils – the S2 Startup Challenge. Designed to spark entrepreneurial thinking and develop vital employability skills, the month-long challenge saw pupils work in teams to create a business idea, turn £10 of startup capital into real profit, and pitch their results to a panel.

Run over four consecutive Thursdays, the challenge was coordinated by DYW School Coordinator Debbie Khadi and supported by a range of local businesses, school staff, and enterprise partners. Pupils were encouraged to apply creativity, initiative and problem-solving to a real-world task while learning from professionals who started their own journeys as young entrepreneurs.

Debbie Khadi, DYW School Coordinator at Kingussie High School, said, “The Startup Challenge brought enterprise learning to life for our young people in a really practical and inspiring way. They weren’t just learning about business – they were doing it. Watching pupils grow in confidence, develop resilience, and enjoy the process of turning an idea into action has been incredibly rewarding. I’m so proud of what they achieved.”

Programme Overview

Week 1: Launch & Business Planning
Ben Morrison, 22-year-old founder of Morrison Lawn & Landscape, introduced the challenge with a video and presentation sharing his entrepreneurial journey. Pupils formed teams and developed business ideas ranging from face painting and car washing to jewellery making, classroom cleaning and petting zoos.

Week 2: Budgeting & Costing
Clair and Shareon from GrowBiz guided pupils through key finance skills including pricing, cost forecasting and profit planning. Teams refined their ideas based on professional feedback.

Week 3: Branding & Promotion
Kayla from Canine Manor – another young entrepreneur who recently expanded her dog grooming business – led a session on branding and promotion. Pupils created logos, slogans, and marketing materials with Kayla’s one-to-one support.

Week 4: Enterprise Day & Reflection
Pupils spent the day trading with the school community and visiting P5–P7 pupils from Kingussie Primary. In the afternoon, they reflected on their profits, teamworking and learning outcomes, before presenting to Debbie Khadi and GrowBiz’s Shareon Gordon.

Real Impact & Social Purpose

The challenge created not only a platform for learning but also an opportunity for giving back. The winning team had the honour of choosing a charity to receive all profits raised – an estimated total of £500. The top three teams each made over £100, demonstrating that even small-scale enterprise activity can deliver meaningful results.

Skills in Action

Throughout the Startup Challenge, pupils weren’t just learning about business – they were living it. From the earliest brainstorming sessions to the final sales pitch, every step offered a chance to develop meaningful, transferable skills.

Pupils learned how to take initiative, working collaboratively to turn creative ideas into viable ventures. They gained hands-on experience in budgeting and financial planning, navigating the realities of pricing, costs and profit margins. Branding and promotion also played a major role, with pupils designing marketing materials and learning how to connect with customers.

Teamwork was central to the experience, with pupils learning how to listen, compromise, and support one another when challenges arose. By the end of the project, they had also built confidence in their ability to communicate – whether through pitching ideas, promoting their products, or reflecting on what they had learned.

These skills – entrepreneurship, financial literacy, communication, and collaboration – will serve them well, whatever path they choose in the future.

What They Said

Ben Morrison, Morrison Lawn & Landscape –
“Great event run by Debbie with a good level of enthusiasm and engagement from the students!”

Shareon Gordon, GrowBiz –
“It wasn’t about being perfect – it was about creativity, confidence and collaboration, and the pupils showed all of that in bucket loads. Whether or not they become business owners in future, they’ve built valuable, real-world skills they’ll carry with them.”

Pupil feedback:
“I feel I could grow this business over the summer!”
“I feel more confident about trying a business idea in the future – but I also realise how much goes into it.”
“I’m not sure I’d be confident starting my own business without my team.”
“I learned to be more prepared if things don’t go well.”

Looking Ahead

With strong outcomes and engagement, the S2 Startup Challenge is already shaping future plans. Recommendations include:

• Introducing digital selling or e-commerce tools
• Offering follow-up mentoring for interested pupils
• Connecting with Young Enterprise Scotland or local business competitions

The S2 Startup Challenge shows what’s possible when enterprise education is hands-on, community-driven and values-led – and why developing young people’s entrepreneurial mindset is more relevant than ever.