Pupils from across Edinburgh took to the stage at Murrayfield Stadium and Easter Road Stadium this week as they participated in Powering Futures Live – a series of regional showcase events which brought over 2,000 pupils from across the country to some of Scotland’s most iconic venues to present to, and network with, over 300 business leaders working across Scotland’s economy.
Across the city, 225 pupils from seven schools – St Augustine’s RC High School, Trinity Academy, Balerno Community High School, Liberton High School, Drummond Community High School, Craigmount High School and Portobello High School – have spent the past 30 weeks working in teams to research, develop answers to real world challenges posed by leading Scottish businesses.
They then delivered their work in a presentation to a panel of professionals working in leading businesses across the Lothians, including Aecom, HSBC, PwC and Hitachi Rail, where they presented their innovative solutions.
Powering Futures Live, which was sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland, marks the end of a year-long journey for participants in the Powering Futures Schools Challenge Programme, bringing education and industry together for a series of regional events at Ayr Racecourse, The Crichton, Stirling Court Hotel, Pittodrie Stadium, Ross Country FC, Hampden Park, Easter Road and Murrayfield stadium.
This academic year marked the largest participation in the Powering Futures programme to date, with over 100 schools across the country and around 2,300 pupils taking part for 2025-2026.
Having undertaken their final presentations at Powering Futures Live, all participants are now expected to earn an SCQF Level 6 qualification – equivalent to a Scottish Higher.
The challenges for this year’s cohort were set by leading Scottish industries, reflecting the priorities shaping Scotland’s future economy:
- Seafood Scotland – ‘Fish-Tales’: Helping Scots to rediscover their local superfood by designing a campaign that reconnects Scottish people with local sustainable seafood
- Vital Energi with the Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB) and HCI Skills Gateway – ‘Hot Stuff’: Design a town for 2,500 new homes that showcases the opportunities that new heating technology offers – creating communities where heating is affordable, efficient and low carbon
- BAM and Siemens Energy – ‘Watt’s Next?’: creating a nine-month timeline of experiences and events that redesigns how young people can discover careers in clean energy, and be connected with potential employers
- SSEN Transmission – ‘Power-Up’: Create a plan for moving the equipment and materials for new electricity infrastructure to a remote environment whilst minimising the impact to local communities and the environment.
Industry mentors from these organisations worked directly with pupils in the classroom, guiding their research and helping develop creative solutions, directly bridging the gap between education and business and helping employers to engage with the workforce of the future.
Powering Futures was established in 2020 to empower young people with the skills, critical thinking and confidence to enter the workplace. At its heart is the Powering Futures Challenge Programme, which tasks teams of S5 and S6 pupils with solving a problem set by industry.
The programme supports pupils in developing skills in teamwork, problem-solving and presenting, and culminates with pupils presenting their creative solutions to a panel of industry judges. At the end of the process, participants will gain a SCQF Level 6 qualification, equivalent to a Scottish Higher.
Jennfier Tempany, Co-Founder of Powering Futures said: “We were delighted to have 225 pupils from across Edinburgh attend Powering Futures Live at Murrayfield and Easter Road this week, 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.
“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.”
Jeni Adamson, Industry Engagement Manager at Seafood Scotland said: “As both a student mentor and challenge setter, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the journey from the classroom to final presentations.
“The commitment and creativity displayed by the students at the live events I have attended has been outstanding, and the quality of solutions presented across all challenges has been incredibly impressive.
“Every student I’ve encountered on the programme has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, which is inspiring to see.”
