A DALMELLINGTON school has been selected to represent East Ayrshire at the Sir Tom Hunter Challenge this week.

Doon Academy was among the top two young entrepreneur teams chosen at a semi-final heat in Ayrshire College.

The school will now represent the authority alongside Kilmarnock Academy at an all Ayrshire final at Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Accelerator facility at Olympic Business Park in Dundonald.

Team Doon created mentalhealth board games to encourage young people to open up and develop coping mechanisms.

Eight teams representing Auchinleck, Cumnock, Doon, Grange , Kilmarnock , Loudoun, St Joseph’s and Stewart on Academies , presented their business plans to a panel of judges at the semi-final.

Alex McPhee (depute chief executive and chief financial officer, EAC), Michael Keane (head of Planning and Economic Development, EAC), Melanie Blane (director, White Rabbit Skincare) and Lorna Gibson (vice president, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry)faced a challenging task, as the level of competition was incredibly high.

Councillor Elena Whitham, depute leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: “This was a keenly fought competition, where our young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to demonstrate not only their business skills, but also their fantastic creativity within a business setting.

“Engagement with business is now securely embedded in the school curriculum and our vision is to ensure that every pupil will develop the skills and abilities for a successful career.

“I would like to wish Doon and Kilmarnock Academies all the very best at the grand final event.

“The semi-final was a great warm up for the young people and I know that they are now ready to take on Ayrshire’s best.”