STAFF at an Aberdeen firm have been doing their bit to give young people a better chance to achieve their potential and create more entrepreneurs and new businesses for Scotland.
Oil service company Petrotechnics has been working with pupils at the city’s Kirkhill nursery/primary school for more than a year as part of a scheme launched by the Scottish Government.
It is part of Determined to Succeed, the government’s strategy for delivering enterprise in education; a long-term drive to generate energy, enthusiasm and creativity in teachers and children and build an enterprise culture which has attracted investment of about £88million.
Petrotechnics employees regularly visit the primary school or play host to pupils visiting their offices.
Chief executive Phil Murray said: “So far we have been involved in balloon rocket challenges, in providing information to allow children to develop an interactive environment based on Petrotechnics’ office, an X-Factor talent show, kite-building, a staff v pupils football match and I even took on a special role at Christmas. We are very much part of the local community and being involved with Kirkhill primary is a way for us to help the staff to foster talent and shape our future entrepreneurs, office staff or even rock stars.
“Everyone here gets so much out of our partnership with the school.
“At one level you feel like it’s a worthy cause, while at another you are learning from the interaction you have with the kids.”
The pupils recently organised a masked dinner and dance to raise funds for their school and to help other children throughout the north-east, with the support of Petrotechnics.
Proceeds of the event will go towards buying new learning aids and funding the breakfast club run by the 274-pupil school to try to make sure children start each day with a healthy breakfast.
Head teacher Lorraine Napier said: “We have gained an enormous amount from our links with Petrotechnics. Children are always open to ideas so it makes real sense to inspire them at a relatively early age and let them see that there are opportunities open to them.”