Sixth year girls at Auchinleck Academy have beaten off stiff competition to scoop first place in the inaugural Growing Future Assets Competition.

Pitching Illumina Inc, a cutting edge medical device company, the girls demonstrated innovative, strategic and analytical thinking, when presenting their chosen business as a viable and recommended investment opportunity.

The Growing Future Assets Competition final took place virtually on 8 and 9 June 2020. The annual event introduced senior schoolgirls across Scotland to the world of investment, its operation, relevance and impact as well as the range of careers available within the sector.

Peter Gilchrist, Head Teacher, said: “At Auchinleck Academy we are so proud of our Business Girls who won the 2020 Growing Future Assets Competition.

“Well done to Abbie, Ailey, Alice, Eva and Katie who have worked brilliantly on this project from start to finish.”

Mentor for the Auchinleck Academy Team, Laura Fyfe, Investment Analyst at Stewart Investors added: “I was hugely impressed with the girls’ work on making the case to invest in Illumina.

“Each of the girls worked immensely hard on their investment report and the initiative, professionalism, independence and critical thinking skills they displayed over the past few months has been incredibly inspiring.”

The winning team received £1,000 for their school and £200 for each of the team members in vouchers of their choice.

“It was an honour to hear Illumina represented in the Growing Future Assets Competition,” said Jacquie Ross, Vice President of Investor Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility and Communications at Illumina.

“Illumina’s culture builds on our commitment to innovation and to enabling a more sustainable and equitable future for all, and we are thrilled our story helped to inspire the next generation of Scottish female investment professionals.

“We look forward to seeing the contributions each of the participants will make toward improving our global community through finance, corporate responsibility, and beyond.”

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