Stock Market Challenge

Pupils from across Scotland will get the opportunity to experience the excitement and the adrenaline of dealing on a live trading floor when they take part in the seventh annual Stock Market Challenge, delivered by Skills Development Scotland.

There are five challenges taking place across Scotland between November and March involving 125 schools.

The first challenge, sponsored by BNP Paribas will involve 25 schools from across the North East of Scotland and it will take place on Tuesday November 17 in the Bonar Hall at the University of Dundee. The second challenge sponsored by Standard Life, involving 25 schools from across the South East of Scotland will take place on Thursday 19 November in South Hall, Pollock Halls, University of Edinburgh.

This year the sponsors have made this unique experience accessible to thousands of pupils by giving the 125 participating schools a free year-long licence for the Stock Market Challenge online resource. In the run up to the events, Business Education and Maths teachers will run in-school challenges to select the five pupils who will represent them.

Working in small teams, the S3 pupils will be challenged to use their skills to manage a portfolio of shares and foreign currency. They will make their investment decisions by interpreting and analysing information from the financial markets. The simulated live trading will take place over a two-hour period and the team with the highest portfolio at the closing bell wins.

Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said:

“The economy and the financial markets affect our everyday lives. Stock Market Challenge is a great way to allow young people to experience first hand how the markets operate and perhaps even shape their future career aspirations, giving them a taste for working in financial services.