Search for Scotland's young fund managers

Home > Services > Council and government > Council information, performance and statistics > News - release archive

Eight schools from across Renfrewshire took part in the event (Park Mains High, Gleniffer High, Gryffe High, Johnstone High, Paisley Grammar, Renfrew High, St Benedict’s and Trinity High). In total 125, S3 pupils from across Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Dunbartonshire attended the day, with each school entering one team of five pupils.

It was an exciting day of competitive trading as Stock Market Challenge gave pupils the chance to experience the excitement of buying and selling shares on a live trading floor. Joining them on the floor were industry specialists from Barclays Wealth, who competed against the pupils on an equal footing, while at the same time offering support and guidance to the pupils taking part.

Now in its third year, Stock Market Challenge is a work-related learning activity which uses the experience of a live trading floor to introduce young people to finance and investments. It is an exciting and enjoyable introduction to fund management, which broadens pupils’ understanding of financial matters. As well as giving them an insight into what it is like to deal on a live trading floor, the event forms part of pupils’ wider business and careers education.

Five virtual days of trading are condensed into two hours with teams dealing in shares on a live trading floor. Each team begins with £15,000 and the one with the highest portfolio at the closing bell wins a trophy for their school and individual prizes.

Six regional events are taking place nationally involving 150 schools and 750 pupils. The event is supported and co-organised by Careers Scotland.

Councillor Roy Glen, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Lifelong Learning and Work Policy Board, said: “We are delighted to have our schools involved in this event. It is a great opportunity for the pupils to experience first hand what it would be like to work in the stock market industry and the chance to speak to representatives from the financial sector.

“At Renfrewshire Council we value the importance of enterprise and education in all our schools. This day will build on a number of initiatives we already run in our schools to support and encourage our pupils to explore and work towards different types of careers.”

Danny Logue, regional manager at Careers Scotland, added,"Careers Scotland is working with schools across the region to make sure that pupils and teachers are aware of the range of opportunities in the financial services sector. The industry is an important growth sector in the local economy and it is vital to the success of the industry that young people are encouraged to consider it as a real career choice".

“The Challenge is one of a number of initiatives focusing on a sector of the economy to support the school curriculum through working with businesses. Following Stock Market Challenge, the students will be able to sit down with their Careers Scotland adviser to discuss career choices in the financial sector.”

Paul Curry from Barclays Wealth said: “We're delighted to be supporting this great financial learning experience for young people. Stock Market Challenge will give them the opportunity to learn how to work as a team, take calculated risks, make decisions under pressure and experience the excitement of the trading floor.”

“We believe it is important for companies like ours to put something back into the communities in which we are based, and Stock Market Challenge is a great demonstration of this.

“We see education and working in partnership with schools as one of the most effective ways to invest in the future, and Stock Market Challenge is an ideal project to enable us to build our links with local schools.”

The event is supported and co-organised by Careers Scotland, the leading organisation supporting links between careers education and businesses in the country.

Press release: Wednesday 31 January 2007