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At Optimat, delivering meaningful community benefit is an important part of our business. Through our ongoing support of the Young Enterprise Company Programme, we are proud to invest our time and expertise in helping young people develop the confidence, skills and entrepreneurial mindset that will support them in their future careers and aspirations.

Sharing expertise through mentoring

As part of our support for the Young Enterprise Company Programme, Jordan spent the year mentoring Swooply, a team from Madras College that set out to tackle a problem familiar to many students. Their idea was an online marketplace where students could buy and sell unused school items, helping to make essential supplies more affordable while reducing waste.

From the outset, it was clear that this was more than a classroom exercise. The students had identified a genuine problem and were passionate about creating a practical solution built around sustainability, affordability and community.

Throughout the year, Jordan acted as a sounding board for the team as they developed the concept. One of his earliest recommendations was to test the idea with potential users before investing time and resources in developing the platform. In response, the students surveyed more than 50 young people to better understand their needs and validate the concept.

Although time and resources meant the website was not launched during the programme, the experience provided valuable lessons in business development. The team gained first-hand experience in market research, testing assumptions, defining roles and responsibilities and managing priorities. Their idea and approach were also recognised during their company interview with Developing the Young Workforce Fife, where judges praised the relevance of the concept, the strength of the team’s values and their ability to reflect on the challenges they encountered.

Supporting young people through experiences such as these is a rewarding aspect of our wider commitment to delivering meaningful community benefits.

Celebrating innovation at the Scottish finals

The programme culminated in the Young Enterprise Company Programme Scottish Finals, held at Hampden Park in May, where Ashley joined the judging panel alongside business leaders and industry professionals. The event provided participating companies with the opportunity to showcase their products and services, present their business journeys and compete for a range of awards.

Optimat was proud to support the Innovation Award, which was presented to Valley Grind Consultancy from Clyde Valley High School. We congratulate the team on this well-deserved achievement, along with all the young people who took part in the programme.

Reflecting on the event, Ashley said:

“It was a real privilege to be part of the judging panel and to see first-hand the enthusiasm, creativity and professionalism demonstrated by all the teams. Young Enterprise in Scotland provides invaluable opportunities for young people to develop confidence, commercial awareness and practical business skills, and the quality of the ideas on display gives great confidence in the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.”

Looking ahead

We look forward to continuing our involvement with Young Enterprise in Scotland in the years ahead and to helping inspire and support the next generation of innovators, business leaders and problem-solvers.