DOON Academy in Dalmellington came in second place and earned a cool £2000 from an enterprising challenge hosted by Sir Tom Hunter.

The pupils from Doon Academy were runners up in the Sir Tom Hunter Enterprise Challenge with their business 'Stand Tall' .

The lost out on the top prize to Kilmarnock's St. Joseph's Academy.

The event took place on Monday night (June 13) at the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock.

The Stand Tall team of, Chloe Meredith, Korina McMahon, Ben Willis, Cameron Peters and Bailey Wood, created an activity pack for use in association with the Mentors in Violence programme.

Their presentation was incredibly hard hitting using blocks very much like Jenga with phrases imprinted on each one to encourage pupils to communicate freely with their peers and teachers.

Stand Tall is already booming as a business and the team are working on many orders received from schools around East Ayrshire.

Over the last four years, Sir Tom Hunter has encouraged youngsters to come up with ideas for products or businesses for the future.

Sir Tom said: "This schools competition is about preparing our young people both for the world of work and in creating their own work; their own businesses, giving them the confidence and motivation to do so.Why? Because 100 per cent of the net new jobs in our economy will come from businesses less than five years old and, as importantly, around half of the young people in primary school today will go to jobs not yet created. We need to do all we can to help our educators support our young people in a highly dynamic and changing economy; educating them for the future world of work.

"The Ayrshire schools taking part were a huge inspiration and should be roundly congratulated as should the teachers and councils supporting them. The ideas the teams came up with, the teamwork they put in, the opportunities they identified, all contributed to an exceptional outcome. These young people can and will succeed either in the world of work or in building their own entrepreneurial workforce.

Nine teams representing Ardrossan Academy, Arran High, Loudoun Academy, Marr College, Prestwick Academy, Queen Margaret Academy, St Joseph’s Academy and St Matthews Academy as well as Doon Academy presented their business ideas and innovations to a panel of judges – Sir Tom Hunter, Willie Mackie (Regional Chair Ayrshire College and board member of Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland), David Ross (Director, Keppie Design) and Frank Gormanley (enabler, Entrepreneurial Spark)

Council Leader, Douglas Reid said: “It might sound like a cliché but the pitches at this year’s final were absolutely exceptional with the young people raising the bar significantly from last year.

And for East Ayrshire to receive first and second place was just incredible. Both teams pitched viable business ideas in a passionate way. They engaged the judges and the audience with their excellent presentations which were well researched and developed.

"I am incredibly proud of all three of our teams who performed so well at the grand final. Engagement with business is a key priority for our council and is now securely embedded in the school curriculum. Our vision is to ensure that every pupil will develop the skills and abilities for a successful career.

"Above all, we want to foster in our young people that vital ‘can-do’ attitude and positive mindset. Events like this clearly show what a talented pool of young entrepreneurs we have in East Ayrshire.”