What’s the Big Deal?
Posted on 21 April 2009
More than 200 students, aged 13-15, from 19 schools across the region, will take part in the Big Deal enterprise competition to test their business acumen. They will work for ten weeks with staff from the University of York and business professional mentors from multinational companies including Google, Shell and HSBC.
At the end of the programme, the students, in teams of four, will present their business plans to a Dragon’s Den-style judging panel. The winning team’s reward will be a trip to the business capital of the world - New York.
Big Deal is another example of great partnership working, with over 15 different companies volunteering staff time
Nik Miller
The Excellence Hub for Yorkshire and Humber, in partnership with West Yorkshire Aimhigher and London-based charity the Brightside Trust, will launch the competition on 24 April 2009 at the University of York. The event is in its second year - last year’s winners, Guiseley School in Leeds, developed a website for teenagers looking for local work.
The competition is part of the Government-funded Young, Gifted and Talented programme, which offers talented school students exciting opportunities at universities.
Programme co-ordinator, Nik Miller, said: “Big Deal is another example of great partnership working, with over 15 different companies volunteering staff time. It will be exciting to support young people’s work with business professionals, and we’re expecting some very competitive teams!”
Lewis Knights, a mentor from the National Audit Office, added: “The competition offers a perfect opportunity for professionals to work with young people on real life business situations. It’s brilliantly coordinated and designed with busy professionals and teenagers in mind – the other teams better watch out, because my guys are going to wipe the floor with them!”
Notes to editors:
- More information on the Excellence Hub for Yorkshire and Humber at www.york.ac.uk/excellencehub