BiG Challenge: Entries hit 300

People across the city are still talking about the 2008 BiG Challenge, fuelled by reports of the amazing American experience of winners, Bitz & Boblets, Key Stage 3 students from Myers Grove. Meanwhile, all the winning schools and colleges are busy investing their prize money in future entrepreneurial opportunities.

Business teams entering from schools and colleges across Sheffield have just four months to make it BiG. Teams of pupils entering the challenge are each given £25 to start up and run their own business idea over the next six months.

When the Challenge ends on 6 March 2009, the judges will have the daunting task of selecting ten businesses who will share in £75,000 worth of prizes …

The overall winners go on the BiG Trip to a secret international business destination
There are 1st (£10k), 2nd (£4k) & 3rd (£2k) prizes for Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and post-16 teams
Three prizes of £3000 are for special achievements: best final presentation to the judges, best website and largest profit made
Selected from the 2008 winners, there is a special £3000 prize for the best existing business

Last but not least, every student in a winning team wins £100 in retail vouchers and successful teams also have the challenging decision of how to use their profits

But is anyone interested? So far, we’ve had an amazing response:

302 valid entries – compared with 180 last time
22 schools and colleges involved
This includes four schools new to the challenge – welcome to All Saints, Birley, Hinde House, Newfield and Spring Lane College
There are over 20 entries each from Castle College, City Myers Grove, Newfield, Park Academy and Wisewood
Every team is linked to a member of teaching or support staff

The BiG Challenge is supported by - SENTA, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Sheffield Technology Parks and the South Yorkshire Investment Fund - with one further sponsorship announcement expected shortly!

Go to www.bigchallenge.biz to follow the teams.