The BiG Challenge 2010 Launch
The BiG Challenge 2010 Launch
The BiG Challenge 2010 was launched in style last month at a unique event in the heart of Sheffield’s Creative and Digital Industries Quarter.
On October 15th Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Scriven, and Cabinet member for Employment, Enterprise and Development, Councillor Colin Ross joined local entrepreneurs and Sheffield students at Red Tape Central to launch the third BiG Challenge.
The event was broadcast to City Learning Centres (CLCs) across Sheffield using the Virtual Classroom technology. Schools that weren’t able to attend the launch had the opportunity to watch the action in real time whilst live footage of the audiences was shown on Red Tape Central’s TV screens.
This year’s competition is set to be bigger and better than ever before as all 30 schools and colleges in Sheffield are eligible to enter. Last year, a total of over £17,000 was made in profit from BiG Challenge entries and just over 70 teams completed the competition, handing in final reports. Successful teams from last year’s BiG Challenge were on hand at the launch to offer advice on being successful and making it through to the end of the competition.
The winners of last year’s BiG trip to Paris, 9 Peas in a Pod, gave these top tips:
- Your desire to succeed must be greater than your fear of failure
- Distribute the roles around the team so that everyone is doing something
- Follow a formula – ours was about teamwork
- Don’t waste time – time is money
- Don’t let personal issues affect you
- Learn from your mistakes
- Keep focussed, be trend setters
- Have a slogan!
Last year, Star Signs scooped an impressive total of three awards as well as coming runner up in the interim competition for its marketing materials. Members of the group attended the launch to share their success story and to explain how the BiG Challenge has helped them to set up their own businesses. One member commented,
“The BiG Challenge gave us confidence, showed us how to get started and gave us the determination to succeed.”
Councillor Scriven gave some encouraging and inspiring words. Speaking to students throughout the city he said,
“Taking part in the BiG Challenge gives you real skills and helps you to develop your talents for the future. I know from speaking to many young people around the city that you are full of ideas, drive and enthusiasm and I am sure that some of you will become the next Richard Bransons and Ruth Badgers! This is your competition and your opportunity to make it even bigger and better.”
