Gen+ prepares Scottish students for future careers with business-backed meta-skills pilot program

Education initiative connects students with local companies to build real-world problem-solving and communication skills

Gen+, a Scotland-based education non-profit, has completed a pilot of its Industry Innovator program aimed at developing meta-skills among secondary school pupils through partnerships with businesses.

The initiative ran in five schools from January to March 2025 and is set to expand nationwide.

The pilot paired pupils with organizations across a range of industries, including technology, agriculture, recruitment, and public relations. Lessons were co-designed by teachers and participating businesses to reflect real-world challenges and introduce practical learning approaches beyond the traditional classroom format.

Pilot links classroom learning with industry tasks

Schools taking part in the pilot included Morgan Academy (Dundee), Braes High School (Falkirk), Alva Academy (Clackmannanshire), St Columba’s High School (Inverclyde), and Moffat Academy (Dumfries and Galloway). Participating businesses included Bad Dinosaur, Mossgiel Farm, House of NAF!, Livingston James, and Story Shop.

Pupils were tasked with projects such as redesigning classrooms, developing digital applications, and creating sustainable products. The approach aligned with recent recommendations from reviews of Scotland’s education system that call for a greater focus on meta-skills like creativity, adaptability, and communication.

Victoria Vardy, chief executive officer at Gen+, says the pilot was designed to offer pupils an alternative learning model grounded in collaboration with employers:

“At Gen+, we believe the future belongs to young people who can adapt, collaborate and lead with creativity and purpose. Industry Innovators set out to give pupils just that — a chance to work with real businesses, take on real challenges, and build the skills they’ll need to thrive.”

“We co-designed the program with pupils, teachers and entrepreneurs, and their feedback shaped it at every step. The result is a learning experience that feels relevant, ambitious and exciting. It confirms what we’ve always believed: meta-skills matter, industry insight matters, and young people deserve a curriculum that reflects the world they’re growing into.”

Evaluation shows higher engagement and confidence

An independent evaluation of the pilot gathered feedback from teachers, pupils, and business participants. Teachers reported increased engagement, particularly among pupils who do not typically respond to textbook-based instruction. They also said the flexibility of the co-designed lessons allowed for better adaptation to classroom needs.

Scarlett Hollerin, co-founder of Story Shop, says the program provides an opportunity for young people to engage with new ways of thinking:

“As the mother of two young boys, I think a lot about how they learn and the skills they’ll need for the future. Sitting still and nodding through lessons isn’t how every young person learns best — and it certainly isn’t how the world works.

“This program gives students a chance to think differently, to get stuck into something real, and to see themselves reflected in the kind of exciting, purpose-driven entrepreneurs we work with every day. It’s an opportunity to ignite a passion — and to embed those role models into the curriculum in a way that actually means something.”