18 Mar 2026
Buchanan Galleries has once again hosted its industry-led challenge, ‘Made in Glasgow’, welcoming two local schools to compete in a ‘Dragons’ Den’-style pitch.
‘Made in Glasgow’ is a cross-school competition that challenges students to design an innovative community space for the city, before competing in a live pitch to present their concepts to a judging panel.
Built around the theme ‘reimagining their local retail space’, the initiative tasked Glasgow students to explore the future of retail – encouraging them to think creatively about how retail destinations can better serve their communities and deliver a lasting impact.
Year 10 students from Drumchapel High School and Shawlands Academy participated in a series of workshops designed to mirror real-world industry processes, which explored creative placemaking, community and customer insights, and environmental sustainability – equipping students with the tools to develop a retail concept that serves their local community. They were then challenged to redesign and repurpose a vacant unit to benefit the local community, crafting a visitor experience that is memorable, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive.
The final took place at Buchanan Galleries, where teams presented proposals that demonstrated their understanding of brand development, audience engagement and long-term sustainability. Concepts were brought to life through engaging mood boards and customer research plans, taking into consideration environmental factors and commitments.
A team from Shawlands Academy were declared winners, who will now advance to the national semi-finals, ahead of the grand final in London later this year. The team presented a community-focussed pottery café concept called “The Cozy Kiln”, designed to appeal to a diverse audience. Emphasising sustainability, the café featured electric kilns and offered visitors the chance to recycle their old pottery.
The school engagement initiative is delivered by Buchanan Galleries’ owner Landsec, as part of its social impact programme, Landsec Futures – and Ahead Partnership.
Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries, said: “’Made in Glasgow’ gives young students the chance to develop their creativity and come up with fresh and exciting ideas within the retail sector. It was inspiring to see the imaginative ideas the next generation brought forward – and it was particularly impressive to see students from Drumchapel High School rise to the challenge in their first-ever ‘Made in Glasgow’ competition. We also would like to congratulate Shawlands Academy on claiming the title for the second year in a row.
“We’re proud to continue to strengthen our relationship with Ahead Partnership, empowering over 10,000 young people through our partnership. Now in its third year, the Glasgow competition gives students a space to produce an original concept, develop it into a design and then pitch it to professionals, enhancing their confidence and providing them with skills and knowledge to help boost them in their future endeavours.”
Andy Clarke, Head of Partnerships at Ahead Partnership, said: “Nothings brings careers and skills education to life quite like stepping into real workplaces and meeting role models face to face. The ‘Made in Glasgow’ challenge demonstrates the power of immersive, interactive experiences to ignite curiosity, broaden horizons and inspire young people to explore career paths they may never have considered.
“Our long-standing partnership with Buchanan Galleries’ parent company, Landsec, has enabled us to connect thousands of young people with role models across retail, the built environment and beyond. Together, we’re showing how employers can play a vital role in supporting young people to gain the insights, skills and confidence to thrive in their future careers while building pride in place and awareness of the careers that lie behind young people’s favourite destinations.”
‘Made in Glasgow’ highlights the powerful role young people can play in shaping the future of physical retail. As shopping destinations continue to evolve into experience-led landmarks, the competition reinforces how the next generation is key to helping create spaces that strengthen community ties and deliver lasting positive impact.
Pictured: The winning team from Shawlands Academy with Buchanan Galleries centre director, Kathy Murdoch.
