The Big Deal is a business enterprise competition for Year 10 members of the University of Warwick's UniTracks Programme. Please have a look at the following to find out all you need to know about THE BIG DEAL 2014.

What's It All About?

Year 10 students form teams of three or four and work together with a business mentor - an experienced business person - to develop a business or social enterprise idea, formulate a business plan and then create a business pitch for a panel of judges. All teams present their ideas to a panel of judges at the Final ('Dragon's Den'-style, but not as scary!) and the winning team is treated to a fantastic prize -- an all expenses paid business trip to a European city!

How Does It Work?

The project runs in the spring for a period of around 10 weeks, with teams undertaking specific tasks each week. Having completed the Application Challenge and attended the Launch day at the University of Warwick, teams then begin to work through weekly assignments. These tasks help guide teams through the process of turning their business idea from a concept to a going concern. You can find more information on what exactly happens over the 10 weeks here.

Teams don't work alone! Each team is paired with a mentor drawn from Britain's vibrant business community. Just as UniTracks schools are located all over the country, we draw on the skills and experience of mentors located from across the UK using The Big Deal Blogs, a specially designed e-mentoring platform developed by Brightside, an educational charity committed to making e-mentoring as accessible and effective as possible. This service allows teams and mentors to communicate whenever they want from wherever they are.

What's In It For Me?

Not only will you have the chance to work with your friends and fellow UniTracks members seeing a business idea from its initial stage to the final product but you will also gain valuable experience from working with a seasoned business mentor. This process will give you the chance to work within a structured environment designed to enable your ideas to grow and reach their full potential. Plus, you'll have the chance to win the fabulous grand prize.

What's the Prize?

The grand prize is an all expenses paid trip to visit a business at a secret location in Europe. Meetings with representatives from a multi-national company will be arranged and you will have the chance to pitch your ideas and learn from some of the world's best business minds. Past trips have seen teams meet with Goldman Sachs, Jaguar Land Rover, UniCredit Bank, Volvo, and New York University's Stern Business School in New York, London, Milan, Sweden and Venice.

Prizes will also be awarded to runners up and honourable mention teams.

Don't take our word for it: read about The Big Deal 2009 and The Big Deal 2010 winners' experiences.

How Do I Get Involved?

If you are a Year 10 student and have just joined the UniTracks Programme you are eligible. Get together with two or three other Year 10 UniTracks members at your school and complete the Application Challenge. Your G&T/resource/or designated link teacher will have additional information. If your team completes the Challenge successfully, you will be invited to attend The Big Deal 2014 Launch on 14th February here at Warwick Business School, the University of Warwick where you'll meet your mentor, and participate in an interactive team building activity getting you started on an exciting journey!

The Big Deal 2014

• The Weekly Tasks
  
• Application Challenge!
• Resources for Teachers
• Resources for Mentors