Our Big Ideas Competition 2024 National Final was incredibly special. Not only was it our 10th anniversary of the competition, but it was set against the backdrop of a General Election.
Where we’d usually hold the event at the Houses of Parliament and be joined by a host of cross party MPs, this year was a little different. A last minute change due to the calling of the election meant that the National Final was held in the stunning Smith Centre at the Science Museum instead.
We were thrilled to be joined by 11 teams from across the country who presented their Big Ideas for the last time, as well as broadcaster and inspirational speaker, Fayon Dixon, who hosted the event . We were also incredibly excited to have 3 Big Ideas Competition alumni with us to celebrate our 10th anniversary. They kindly shared some of their experience of how taking part in the Big Ideas Competition had helped to shape their future.
In addition, we welcomed 19 mentors from our business partners Tarmac, Northern Gas Networks, Cadent, IM Properties and PAM Building who have been working with the students over the year to develop their Big Ideas.
The judging panel was made up of:
Chloe Dyson -TCOLab Director with a background in sustainability communication and strategy.
Ademola Adeyeba – Founder and CEO Get Hench and 1000 Black Boys CIC, an award-winning social entrepreneur.
Richard Vine – Regional Director – Contracting at Tarmac – Big Ideas National Business Partner.
Rishi Kumar – former National Finalist 2017 and National Finalist Young Person Judge 2018, and current law student.
Noorafsha Manga – Non-Exec Director at S4TP and Apprenticeship Skills Coach at London Southbank University.
All the teams who presented blew our panel of judges away with their innovative ideas, well thought out business plans and creativity.
After a very difficult hour behind closed doors, the judges made their final decisions and the winners were announced…
1st Place
Vita Verde from Plashet School
Their Big Ideas was converting food waste from people into biochar in order to install green roofs into their houses.
2nd Place
PodZzz from Bradford Girls’ Grammar School
Their Big Ideas was setting up a community of ‘pods’ that homeless people can sleep in and gain education and skills to further their life opportunities.
3rd Place
Bee-Quick from Telford Priory School
Their Big Ideas was an app/game where you pollinate trees, and the rewards are that trees get planted in real life.
Schofield Award
Green Holidays from The Pingle Academy
The Schofield Award is presented to a team that embodies the very spirit of Solutions for the Planet.
Their Big Ideas was a campaign to reduce commercial aviation and encourage more national travel.
Barker Award
AgriAI from Parkside Academy
The Barker Award is presented to a team who particulalry impress the judges with their presentation skills.
Their Big Ideas was electric tractors which run on solar panels and are run by AI to assist farmers in efficient and sustainable farming