GRANTS of between £5,000 and £10,000 are available for schools in Devon to develop creative and engaging learning experiences that will develop students skills in enterprise and innovation.

Devon County Council's Enterprise in Schools Grant (EiSG) programme is open to state-funded and primary schools benefiting Year 6 pupils and above.

The grant scheme follows on from a pilot scheme launched at the beginning of the year, which saw five Devon schools receive a programme of entrepreneurial learning activities.

Applications must focus on entrepreneurship and enterprise education, involve pupils and staff in the design of the project and be sustainable after the lifetime of the grant.

Cabinet member for economy and enterprise, Cllr Leadbetter said: 'I think it's very important we encourage entrepreneurship within schools and build this element into the curriculum.

'It's valuable for young people to be able to apply what they're learning in the classroom to the real life situations that they will experience once they've left education.

'This will bring some of their subjects to 'life' — whether it's maths or science or English — when they see the relevance of them in the world of work and business.'

Applications must be received by noon on Friday, October 24.

Grant funds must be spent and claimed by March 31, 2015.

For more information and to apply go to the business and support pages of Devon County Council's economy web pages.