ENTERPRISING students from North Ayrshire schools showed their business acumen in the Sir Tom Hunter Challenge.

The Dragons’ Den style competition saw pupils from across Ayrshire come up with an original idea for a product, innovation or business.

Two schools from North Ayrshire - Ardrossan Academy and St Matthew’s Academy – took part alongside four schools from both South and East Ayrshire.

The pupils had to present a business plan to judges, including Sir Tom Hunter, at the final, held on 19 June at Ayr Racecourse.

The winning team was Loudoun Academy from East Ayrshire, while the team from St Matthew’s ran them close and finished runners up with their business called UNiQUE, which provides an interactive fun activity for primary school pupils.

Ardrossan Academy finished equal fourth for their business HYGIEIA – a bedside or chairside portable centre for patients in hospital.

Councillor John Bell, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Employment, said: “This is a great event and a fantastic learning process for all the pupils involved. We’re sure they’ve picked up some invaluable skills along the way.

“For St Matthew’s to finish second is a great credit to the pupils and their teachers. All our pupils have worked extremely hard.”

Sir Tom Hunter added: “Ayrshire’s young people have again stepped up to the mark creating business ideas that any entrepreneur would be proud of and I congratulate them all…We need to redouble our efforts to engage all young people in the world of work and educate them for a world that is changing at an unparalleled pace – teachers can’t bear all the burden of this, business must play its role and I’d recommend all Ayrshire businesses sign up to Founders4Schools to do just that.”

The event will be staged in North Ayrshire next year.

On the evening Sir Tom gave the winning school £5,000. As second, St Matthew’s received £3000.