QMU Means Business - empowering young innovators
In a bid to strengthen economic development and communities across East Lothian, Queen Margaret University is encouraging secondary pupils to develop as innovators in their local community.
QMU’s Business School launched ‘QMU Means Business’, a dynamic new initiative that brings the principles of Community Wealth Building directly into local schools. This innovative workshop series is designed to equip young people with the commercial and social innovation skills needed to create sustainable, community-rooted solutions.
Over four weeks, the secondary school pupils from Dunbar and Musselburgh Grammar schools engaged in a series of two-hour workshops delivered within their own school by QMU Business School staff and students. Each session introduced practical tools used in business innovation - from identifying local challenges and generating creative solutions, to developing viable business models and mastering the art of persuasive pitching.
The programme culminated in an exciting celebratory showcase event at Queen Margaret University at the end of November. Here, student teams presented their projects - real-world solutions designed to make a tangible impact in their communities.
QMU Means Business is more than a workshop series - it’s a platform to encourage young people to become changemakers. By giving young people the opportunity to think creatively, strengthen their problem-solving skills and develop their entrepreneurial thinking - QMU is helping to build resilient, economically vibrant communities - one idea at a time
This Community Wealth Building initiative allows us to harness the creative power of young people, from all over the county, so they can think about what their community needs and what we can do to help it thrive. It’s about working together to create ideas and solutions, rather than working in restrained, structured way. We want young people to challenge themselves to think outside the box. We enjoyed the energy that these young people brought to the QMU Means Business initiative, and hearing some of the winning ideas that offered realistic solutions and which have the great potential to deliver impact in the community.”
Three students from QMU's Business School worked with Dunbar and Musselburgh pupils, delivering business enterprise workshops over a four-week period.
We encouraged them to come up with a concept and solutions to solve local problems. We helped them develop their ideas and their pitches, so they were ready to take part in the final event at the University. We were really encouraged by the enthusiasm and creativity that the pupils brought to the project, and it was extremely rewarding to see them grown in confidence as they developed their ideas and delivered their final pitches.
The best concept came from a team from Dunbar, who presented a proposal for cliff safety, and the best pitch went to a Musselburgh team for their solution to river pollution.
For further media information contact Lynne Russell, Communications Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk (copy to pressoffice@qmu.ac.uk) M: 07711 011239.
