North Lanarkshire pupils cook up a storm in Dragon’s Lair competition

North Lanarkshire pupils have showcased their entrepreneurial skills in the annual Dragon’s Lair competition organised by North Lanarkshire Council. The competition aims to introduce young people to the world of business and potential career paths they may not have considered before. This year, the winning entry was a unique AI-powered robot named Project Chef, created by Zac Murray from Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill.

Project Chef is a robot that can create meals using ingredients found in the user’s cupboards. The device, equipped with voice-activated controls, projects the recipe on kitchen walls and only turns off when instructed to do so, eliminating the need for non-renewable recipes or constant phone searches. This innovative idea earned Zac a £100 Amazon voucher and a trophy for his school.

The Dragon’s Lair competition allows S3 pupils to develop business plans, which are then evaluated by Business Gateway Advisors. The top six entries are selected to pitch their ideas to a panel of industry expert ‘dragons’. The dragons, local business owners who bring their wealth of experience to the table, were impressed by the creativity and commercial appeal of Project Chef.

Councillor Alex McVey, Convener of the council’s Enterprise and Fair Work Committee, commended all the young participants for their professionalism and ingenuity in presenting their business ideas. The competition also received support from local businesses such as UKSE, BDD Pharma, Indeglas, and Livn Manufacturing, who sponsored and contributed their time to the event.

Scott Webb of UKSE, one of the principal sponsors of Dragon’s Lair, praised Zac’s business idea for its creativity, commercial viability, and practical application. The standard of entries and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the pupils year after year continues to impress the judges, making it a challenging task to select a winner.

The Dragon’s Lair competition not only fosters entrepreneurial spirit but also provides a platform for young students to explore their business acumen and innovative ideas. The success of Project Chef reflects the talent and creativity of the young minds in North Lanarkshire, inspiring future generations to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.