At the end of February, we hosted our fourth-ever Growing Future Assets Investment Competition Final, and what a year this was! This time, due to the growth of the initiative, we decided to go the extra mile and host the event live. Finalists, sponsors and competition coaches alike gathered to celebrate this year’s entries, along with deciding on the winners.

As many of you know, the competition breaks new ground in highlighting the potential of Scotland’s high school girls in the finance sector. Due to the lack of other initiatives regarding girls’ financial literacy, this competition has made significant strides since 2020 engaging: 1800 students; 30 council areas; 300 volunteers; and 40 investment firms across Scotland.

This year we challenged girls in Scottish schools to research, analyse and pitch a company to a group of investment professionals. Guided by dedicated Competition Coaches drawn from leading firms like Baillie Gifford, Stewart Investors, and Martin Currie, these young talents honed their skills to pitch investment strategies with sophistication and flair.

On the day, Preston Lodge High School emerged triumphant (in the Senior category) with their innovative pitch on Veolia, an eco-friendly resource management company. The closely contested runner-up positions were secured by both North Berwick High School, which presented on Hologic, the leading innovator in US women’s health, and Lossiemouth High School in Moray with a pitch on home builders Taylor Wimpey.

In the Junior category, Calderside Academy claimed the top spot with their pitch on global animal health company Zoetis, and was closely followed up by Broxburn Academy, with their presentation on the UK’s best-known sausage roll producer, Greggs.

Following the culmination of the final, we’re over the moon to announce that this was a resounding success! As the event’s first live rendition, the atmosphere in the room, and the excitement of the girls, were truly palpable. We found that being able to meet up in person was fundamental to fostering a sense of community, along with providing vital insights to the girls regarding networking. It’s safe to say that we can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Finally, we would like to say a massive thank you for all the industry support we (and the students) received this year. Behind the success of this competition is a cohort of over 100 Competition Coaches from 33 firms, contributing their expertise and time to mentor the participants, and we can confidently say that without their contribution this event would not be possible.