Pupils from Renfrewshire took to the stage at Hampden Park as part of a national skills showcase focused on sustainability and future careers.
A total of 438 pupils took part in two days of events on Tuesday 18th March and Wednesday 19th March as part of Powering Futures Live, which brought together more than 2,000 pupils from across Scotland.
Representing Renfrewshire were pupils from Johnstone High School, who worked in teams to research and develop solutions to real-world challenges set by leading Scottish businesses.
They then presented their ideas on stage at Hampden Park to a panel of expert judges and networked with more than 300 business leaders.
The event marked the end of a year-long Powering Futures Schools Challenge Programme, which connects education with industry through a series of regional events held at venues across the country.
This academic year saw the largest participation in the programme to date, with more than 100 schools and around 2,300 pupils involved during 2025-2026.
Challenges set for pupils included designing campaigns to promote sustainable Scottish seafood, creating plans for low-carbon heating in new communities, improving how young people access careers in clean energy, and developing solutions for transporting materials to remote areas with minimal environmental impact.
Industry mentors worked directly with pupils throughout the programme, helping to guide their research and develop their ideas.
All participants are now expected to gain an SCQF Level 6 qualification, equivalent to a Scottish Higher.
Jennifer Tempany, co-founder of Powering Futures, said: “We were delighted to have pupils from Renfrewshire take to the stage at Hampden Park and we were blown away by the innovation and creativity in their final presentations.
“This has been our biggest cohort of young people taking part in the Powering Futures Challenge programme, and Powering Futures Live marks the pinnacle of their exciting journey.
“What makes Powering Futures Live so special is the way it brings education and business directly together, giving young people the opportunity to showcase their talent, harness their skills and present the solutions they have collaborated on for the past year.
“A special thank you to our event sponsors Zero Waste Scotland, and all of our judges who came along and provided invaluable feedback to the presenters.
“By empowering young people through our pioneering Powering Futures Challenge Programme, we can help them develop the critical skills that employers are looking for in their future workforce as well as establishing those essential links between the businesses of today and the workers of tomorrow who will power Scotland’s future.”
Helen Lavery, Business Support Manager from Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Zero Waste Scotland is delighted to partner with Powering Futures once again to support Powering Futures Live. What makes this programme unique is that it equips young people with expert circular economy skills before they’ve even started their first job.
“By embedding circularity into a national qualification and facilitating connections between young people at the outset of their careers with professionals across sectors, Powering Futures is doing more than teaching theory. The programme is nurturing a talent pipeline of future leaders who will be equipped to innovate. This collaboration is vital for driving Scotland’s progress, ensuring the next generation has the knowledge, skills and relationships to transform Scotland’s economy from a linear system to a thriving circular economy.”