Highlands Hosts International Final of European Business Game.

Next week the Highlands will play host to young people from Italy, Denmark, The Faroe Islands, Croatia, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic all gathered to compete in the final of the 2007 European Business Game.

Representing the Highlands and Scotland this year will be a team be Vida Nova from Fortrose Academy the winners of the Highland Final.  Their business idea is a road safety device that gives drivers advanced warning of possible hazards which they might encounter on the road.  

Highland teams have traditionally done well at the International Final.  Teams from Golspie High School, Kingussie High School, Inverness High School, Ullapool High School as well as Fortrose Academy have been previous winners.

The Highland Council through the Planning and Development Service has been coordinating Highland participation in the European Business Game for the past 15 years. 

Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of the Council’s Planning and Development Committee said:  “We are delighted to give our support to this initiative which complements our own business development activities and it is an honour for us to host the finals and welcome participants from around the world to the Highlands.

“Taking part can help to develop the young students into budding entrepreneurs and encourage them to believe in their abilities. Through the scheme the young people learn many skills that they can then go on to use and develop throughout their lives including communication and presentation skills which can boost their self confidence.

“The competition is a great way for students to share ideas with other young people from around the globe and get to know more about different cultures.  I wish them all well and I hope that during their busy week with us, they will take home many happy memories of their visit to Scotland.” 

This is the third time that the Highlands have hosted the event and a full programme of events has been organised for the visiting teams including a cruise to the Summer Isles, a civic reception at the Town House,  and visits to Fort George and Glen Ord Distillery.  The programme also includes the opportunity for the visitors to meet with some successful young Highland entrepreneurs and on Thursday (28 June), there will be an Enterprise Initiative day at Strathpeffer Pavillion where they will meet up with the finalists in the HIE ICT Challenge and after sharing ideas and experiences they will have the chance to speak to local business people and business advisers.

The final will take place on the morning of Friday 29 June at The Highland Council headquarters in Inverness.  The winning team will be announced at lunchtime