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
University & Other Supporters
Big Ideas Blog
Celebrating More Than Winners: Our Special Awards at the National Final
While the spotlight at our National Final often falls on the Winners and Runners Up, each year, we also proudly present three special awards that go beyond the competition results. These awards celebrate the qualities that truly define The Big Ideas Programme:...
The Big Ideas Competition 2026 National Final
The countdown is on! The Big Ideas Competition 2026 National Final is nearly here. Soon we’ll gather to celebrate the incredible achievements of the young people who have dedicated the last 10 months to developing their Big Ideas. Read on for everything you need to...
The E‑Waste Race: What Happens When We Act Together
At Solutions for the Planet, we’ve always believed that environmental challenges are best tackled together. Not as isolated lessons in a classroom, but as shared experiences that connect young people, families, schools and communities. That principle guides all our...
The Big Ideas Programme aligns with:
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