A NORTH-east organic waste recycling firm is showing its support for young entrepreneurs by sponsoring a local school enterprise.
Keenan Recycling, based near New Deer in Aberdeenshire, is supporting Young Déjà vu, a smoothie bar created by pupils at Kincorth Academy as part of the Enterprising Education Pilot, which was developed and funded by the Wood Family Trust and co-funded by Aberdeen City Council.
The pilot was delivered by Kincorth Academy and Enterprise North East Trust (ENET) through the school’s Enterprise and Employability course, which encourages pupils to become entrepreneurial at a young age and teaches them vital skills to prepare them for the world of work.
The extra curriculum course first began in 2010 when mentor and owner of Déjà Vu sandwich shop in Aberdeen set the pupils an enterprise challenge to come up with a new business venture. The pupils decided on a healthy juice bar for the school canteen, and named it Young Déjà Vu after their mentor’s organisation.
The 13 pupils ranging from second to fifth year were awarded a business start-up grant of £4,000 from the Wood Family Trust.
Keenan Recycling, which transforms food and garden waste into compost at its award winning recycling facility, has supplied the young entrepreneurs with recycling bins for the food waste. This allows the young team to recycle items such as leftover food, kitchen waste, coffee grounds, cups and paper towels.
Programme manager at Keenan Recycling, Stuart Youngson, said: “It has been really great to back such a worthy project which is encouraging the youth of today to learn how to run a business as well as becoming more environmentally aware. Our food waste recycling programme allows Young Déjà Vu to help safeguard the environment for future generations and also towards the target of zero waste to landfill. We wish the pupils all the best of success and hopefully this will encourage organisations of all types and sizes to get involved with organic recycling.”
Managing director of Young Déjà Vu and fifth year pupil, Kathryn Symmonds, added: “The experience of working with local entrepreneurs like Keenan Recycling has given me real opportunity to understand business and develop my negotiation skills. Young Déjà vu was thrilled that Keenan Recycling is sponsoring our business as it is important that we develop our relationships with other inspirational local businesses.
“It has been very challenging but I have loved the responsibility of being the MD of a business at only 16 years old. The experience of working with local entrepreneurs like Keenan Recycling has given me real opportunity to understand business and develop my negotiation skills. Young Déjà vu was thrilled that Keenan Recycling is sponsoring our business as it is important that we develop our relationships with other inspirational local businesses.
Business Enterprise teacher at Kincorth Academy, Lauren Skinner, said: “The pupils have really done all the hard work on this project, which has been a joy to watch. They have done everything from creating the business plan to contacting suppliers and supporters as well as developing recipes for the juice bar. This project has allowed them to see what it is like to run a business and helped them identify their skills.”
Keenan Recycling’s commercial food waste collection scheme has been backed by First Minister, Alex Salmond, as part of the Scottish Government Zero Waste Plan, which sets out key actions and new targets to tackle the near 20 million tonnes of waste produced in Scotland every year. The Government is also introducing legislation requiring mandatory food waste collections for many businesses in 2013, leading to savings for local authorities.
Issued by Frasermedia Ltd on behalf of Keenan Recycling.
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