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Bathgate Academy raise money for local charities as part of food challenge

26 June 2018

Bathgate Academy raise money for local charities as part of food challenge

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Last week (20 June) some lucky shoppers from TESCO in Bathgate took home some tasty Scotch Beef PGI burgers in exchange for a donation to charity. This fundraising event was organised by pupils from Bathgate Academy.

This event was set up as part of successful partnership between Bathgate Academy and leading Broxburn-based beef processor - AK Stoddart. AK Stoddart challenged teams of S2 students from the Academy to produce a new Scotch Beef PGI burger to be part of their product range. The pupils conducted market research, developed the product, designed packaging and created a marketing campaign to promote the new product.

 AK Stoddart produced the winning 'SMexico Burger' by Aiden Storie and Abby Robertson which comprise a fiesta of Mexican flavors. The company also worked with their printing partners to produce labels for the packs using the designs the pupils created. The burger went on to raise a significant amount which will be split between Bathgate Academy's Polar Challenge fund (to send pupils on the experience of a lifetime), the Brain Tumor Charity and SANDS, with last minute donations still coming in.

The partnership aims to help pupils develop business skills, learn about the many exciting careers available in the Scottish food and drink industry and how the subjects they learn in school relate to the real world of work. It was set up by Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland as part of its 'A Future in Food' national skills initiative and is supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and TESCO Bathgate.

Moira Stalker, Skills Manager, FDF Scotland, said: “This successful project brings to life the variety of exciting career opportunities available in the food and drink industry – including science, product development, engineering, marketing, nutrition and design. The amount of work and research all the pupils at the Academy put into this project was outstanding. Congratulations to Aiden and Abby for winning the challenge and for all their efforts in raising money for their chosen charities.”

Phil Swailes, Site Manager, AK Stoddart, said: “The Make it with Meat project provides a great platform for the pupils to gain an insight into the different careers that are available within the food manufacturing sector. The project has seen great enthusiasm from the pupils through all stages from the design of the burger through to its creation. Well done to Aiden Storie and Abby Robertson for their winning burger “SMEXICO”. It is crucial that we encourage innovation and excitement in our industry from a young age, given its importance to the Scottish economy as a whole.”

For more information please contact Kirsty Ritchie in FDF Scotland's press office at kirsty.ritchie@fdfscotland.org.uk / 0131 222 8040.

Note to Editors:

  1. The whole food and drink industry from agriculture, fishing, aquaculture through to manufacturing makes a significant contribution to the economy, with an annual turnover of over £14bn and employing around 114,000 people.
  2. FDF Scotland is the voice of the Scottish food and drink manufacturing industry – Scotland's largest manufacturing sector.
  3. FDF Scotland's schools work - A Future in Food, funded by the Scottish Government through Scotland Food & Drink, helps teachers, pupils and parents better understand the food and drink industry in Scotland, highlights the wide variety of careers on offer, helps pupils understand the skills required by employers and how the subjects they study in school relate to the real world of work.

Contact Kirsty Ritchie, Food and Drink Federation Scotland, at: kirsty.ritchie@fdfscotland.org.uk, or 0131 222 8040.

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