More than 70 pupils from 12 Highland primary schools are set to compete at the Ross County FC ground in Dingwall on Tuesday (18 March).

For once, though, the focus isn't on football, but on the Schools Enterprise Challenge, a series of contests to help children develop creative thinking and apply their imaginations to the world of work.

Teams of six pupils from schools in Ross-shire and Inverness will be given just four hours to come up with an original business idea, then design and make their product and devise a marketing plan. 

Members of the local business community will be on hand to offer the teams a wide range of knowledge and experience.  Those taking part include High Street names such as Mackays and Boots, local clothes retailer Fusspots, contact centre operator Vertex, Averon Business Centre, MacLean Electrical, the Construction Industry Training Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, Careers Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and Ross-shire Voluntary Action.

The event has been organised in conjunction with participating primary schools by the Schools Enterprise Programme.  This three-year initiative is managed by Careers Scotland and aims to develop in Scottish children the skills, qualities, and abilities that enable them to become 'enterprising' people in the widest sense of the word.

It should also instil in them a confident, 'can do' attitude, which they can apply to any situation, not just to the world of work.  Half the funding for the initiative has come from Scottish businesses and half from the Scottish Executive.

Kerry Sinclair, who has been seconded to the Schools Enterprise Programme by The Highland Council Education Department, said previous challenge events had proved very popular with pupils, teachers and businesses alike.

"The response among local schools demonstrates quite clearly the high level of enterprise that exists in the Highlands generally," she said.  "The Dingwall event is one of a series taking place across the Highlands and we hope it will help equip pupils with enterprising skills to enable them to have the best possible chance of living economically and socially successful lives. 

"Who knows, some may even be inspired to go on and start their own successful business later in life."

* Schools taking part in the project are:  Smithton; Lochcarron; Tore; Marybank; Munlochy; Ardross; Tarradale; Crown; Strathpeffer; Kiltearn, and Obsdale.