Sky’s the limit for Knockroon kids’ enterprise
17 Nov 2011 10:06:26
Local youngsters are seizing the chance to build a working future for themselves with the help of enterprising business Hope Homes, currently building the new sustainable community at Knockroon with the Prince’s Charities Foundation .
Directors Ian and Anne Hope, in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, have set up an ambitious education programme involving pupils from Auchinleck and Cumnock academies. In a series of training activities over the next year, young people will develop skills to prepare them for the world of work. They will train at Knockroon with skilled tradesmen in civil engineering, plumbing, joinery, planning, electrical work and marketing.
At the recent launch of the Knockroon Business Enterprise and Skills Centre (BESC), Ian Hope welcomed pupils, Council and education staff.
He said: “We would like to develop a strong bond between business and education and we see this enterprise at Knockroon as an additional bolt-on to support the excellent curriculum already being delivered in schools.
“In the immediate future, we need to get designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling Knockroon products – and the sky is the limit if we get it right. We need to build a student team to help deliver this.”
At the launch event, visitors saw six pupils from each school taking part in learning activities and toured the stunning showhomes – in a street named The Kirk’s Alarm – designed to reflect the rich architectural tradition of 17th century Ayrshire. Every detail is perfect, from the wrought iron railings to the sandstone garden walls.
Anne Hope said: “The young people will be working initially on constructing timber garage doors. Some will be based in their own on-site centre, selling products they have created, such as sustainable garden log stores, composters and garden gates. Youngsters will also be given a house of their own to work on, as they learn skills and trades throughout the year”.
Since the visitor centre opened in October, 3,300 visitors have viewed the new homes, with 1240 on the opening weekend alone. The whole development – in which Prince Charles is taking a keen personal interest – will feature 600-700 homes at Knockroon, on the edge of the historic town of Cumnock and Prince Charles’s Dumfries House Estate.
Anne Hope said: “Our aim is to develop a community in which families walk to local amenities such as the village shop. Adam Square will be at the centre of the new neighbourhood, with a public building as its focal point. The mix of homes and workplaces ensures Knockroon will be a vibrant place to work, live and visit.
“Many of the ideas have come from Prince Charles himself, such as the tree-lined streets and our ‘green’ emphasis on sustainability”.
Homes are fitted with woodburning stoves, gardens have invertebrate hotels and garages have eco pods for charging electric cars.
Councillor Jim Roberts, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: “This joint education business initiative presents a wonderful opportunity for local young people to learn from experts in various trades and professions in a real working environment.
“The forward-thinking partnership between Cumnock Academy, Auchinleck Academy, the Council and Hope Homes is a strong one and it will be exciting to see how this develops in the future”.
This unique project – the only one of its kind in Scotland – is part of the Council’s £1million Business Enterprise Fund, which supports the formation of skills centres in East Ayrshire’s nine secondary schools.
The Prince’s Charities Foundation is taking forward Knockroon as a sustainable mixed-use development that will serve as a model community for Scotland. It is hoped that this development will create employment and help bring prosperity to the area and in the longer-term generate profits for donation to charitable causes.
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For further information, contact Elaine Scott on 01563 576013 or email elaine.scott@east-ayrshire.gov.uk