We believe in the power of young people to face the future and its challenges head on, and in the importance of collaboration with business.
Our award-winning Big Ideas Programme connects students with businesses local to them to start conversations around a sustainable future whilst educating a diverse young audience about the many opportunities within the STEM sector.
Solutions for the planet
A climate in crisis, a fragmented society where there is little integration between private business and public services, an unstable jobs market and a STEM sector dominated by white men…big problems need big solutions – and that’s where we come in.
The Big Ideas Programme is a national STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and enterprise programme focused on finding creative solutions to sustainability issues. The programme is aimed at 11-14-year-olds and is delivered in partnership with our network of Business Partners. Their employees mentor teams of young people in schools, local to them, to develop creative solutions (or ‘Big Ideas’) to sustainability issues the young people themselves deeply care about. These Big Ideas are submitted into our Big Ideas Competition, with Regional Finals held at local universities and the National Final at the Palace of Westminster in London.
By linking together local schools, businesses, universities and other organisations, the programme is a platform for young people’s voices to be heard resulting in ripples of change flowing into businesses and communities from their Big Ideas.
Opportunities for Businesses
Opportunities for Schools
Our Big Ideas Programme Partners






students have participated in the Big Ideas Programme to date
%
of teachers said the Big Ideas Day encouraged them to be more creative in the way they tackled key issues like sustainability in the classroom
%
of business mentors believe the programme builds their organisation’s reputation in the local community
MEET THE TEAM

Sarah O’Conor
Big Ideas Programme Manager

Amy Ackroyd
Big Ideas Programme Coordinator

Qaanita Anhu
Big Ideas Programme Coordinator
University & Other Supporters








Big Ideas Blog
CREST Awards and the Big Ideas Programme
What is CREST? CREST is a scheme run by the British Science Association that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers. CREST stands for "CREativity in Science and Technology." It is a nationally recognized scheme for student-led project...
S4TP go offsite on site
The Solutions for the Planet team have been lucky enough to visit a couple of our long-standing business partners recently with trips on-site to Tarmac's Asphalt Plant and Northern Gas Networks' Hydrogen Homes and Customer Energy Village. Both trips were like getting...
Celebrating 10 years of S4TP!
Join us in celebrating 10 years of bringing young people and businesses together for the benefit of both and the planet!
Raise money for us while you shop online
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Solutions for the Planet with easyfundraising?
Click here to find out more…