The finale of Dunfermline’s TestTown contest saw two young lives changed forever.
Until Sunday night mums Jenna Fairgrieve, 25, and Dunfermline-based Emma Pauley, 26, were struggling to make ends meet for their families, but all that is about to change after they scooped the top prize of £10,000 to launch their business, Back on the High Street.
An emotional Jenna said of the win: “£10,000 will launch us. Emma works in Frankie and Benny’s and I work in a food factory. This is not supposed to happen. It was just a little idea in my head.
“I never knew Emma before this competition but I’ve got a friend for life.”
The entrepreneurs won over the judges with their craft enterprise, where they rent out shelves to local artists and host workshops.
They now plan to open up in Dunfermline’s Kingsgate centre. There were a couple of extra surprises on Sunday night.
Announcing the winners, Carnegie UK Trust chairman Angus Hogg revealed there would also be a second prize of £5,000 and a third prize of £2,500. These were won by soup seller Innovation for Dunfermline and Dundee’s Functional Fitness Express.
Mr Hogg said: “I took the executive decision I would in fact bring in a second and third prize.”
Leading the judges was Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer.
Quoting Winston Churchill, he offered all the competitors the following advice: “He said ‘never give in’ and that’s what I say to all of you.”
The largest town centre enterprise challenge held in the UK, TestTown saw 600 hopefuls whittled down to 11 finalists, who set up temporary shops in Dunfermline over three days in an attempt to impress the judges.
One of the judges was RBS managing director Gordon Merrylees, who said: “The truth is you’re all winners and I know that sounds like a clich.”
He added: “These young people are our future and from what I have witnessed today it’s in superb hands.”
TestTown was developed by Carnegie UK Trust as part of an initiative to revitalise Britain’s high streets. The aim was to give young people aged between 16 and 30 the chance to showcase their inovations.
The trust’s practice and development manager Jim Metcalfe thanked The Courier for raising awareness of the project.
“It’s not often I read The Courier and nearly start crying but yesterday that happened, and in a good way. The Courier has been absolutely brilliant throughout. It’s been completely behind us and has supported us all the way.”