Entrepreneurs have been bringing a creative approach to Scottish classrooms – offering kids a new way of learning for future job roles.
Charity Gen+ has tested its Industry Innovator programme in a successful pilot that has reached hundreds of schoolchildren across the country – encouraging them to redesign products, develop apps and solve real-world business problems.
The break from traditional learning placed emphasis on creative thinking, and applying knowledge, in a series of lessons co-designed by businesses and schools.
The programme received strong feedback, with teachers reporting higher engagement and pupils showing increased confidence and curiosity, particularly among those who struggle in traditional classroom settings.
Victoria Vardy, chief executive of Gen+, said: “At Gen+, we believe the future belongs to young people who can adapt, collaborate and lead with creativity and purpose. Industry Innovators set out to give pupils just that — a chance to work with real businesses, take on real challenges, and build the skills they’ll need to thrive.
“We co-designed the programme with pupils, teachers and entrepreneurs, and their feedback shaped it at every step. The result is a learning experience that feels relevant, ambitious and exciting. It confirms what we’ve always believed: meta-skills matter, industry insight matters, and young people deserve a curriculum that reflects the world they’re growing into.”
The pilot ran from January to March at Morgan Academy (Dundee), Braes High School (Falkirk), Alva Academy (Clackmannanshire), St Columba’s High School (Inverclyde) and Moffat Academy (Dumfries and Galloway).
Participating businesses included app developers Bad Dinosaur, disruptive dairy Mossgiel Farm, nail salon House of NAF!, executive recruiters Livingston James, and Glasgow-based PR agency Story Shop. Each business co-designed a lesson based on a real challenge they face — giving pupils the chance to think on their feet and build solutions.
Recent reviews into Scotland’s education system — including James Withers’ skills delivery report and Professor Louise Hayward’s qualifications and assessment review — have called for schools to do more to prepare young people with meta-skills,: creativity, adaptability, communication and problem-solving.
Scarlett Hollerin, co-founder of Story Shop, said: “As the mother of two young boys, I think a lot about how they learn and the skills they’ll need for the future. Sitting still and nodding through lessons isn’t how every young person learns best — and it certainly isn’t how the world works.
“This programme gives students a chance to think differently, to get stuck into something real, and to see themselves reflected in the kind of exciting, purpose-driven entrepreneurs we work with every day. It’s an opportunity to ignite a passion — and to embed those role models into the curriculum in a way that actually means something.”
The pilot was independently evaluated, with feedback from pupils, teachers and business partners all pointing to high levels of engagement and impact. Teachers said the lessons were more suitable for their pupils than traditional coursework and praised the flexibility to adapt them to their class needs. Pupils, particularly in S1 and S2, were described as “energised, curious and confident” after completing the tasks.
With plans for a national rollout in place, it’s hoped more than 275,000 pupils across 2,000+ schools will one day experience the programme.
