The Big Deal competition is a popular e-mentoring business enterprise programme for Goal students. Teams of year 10 students from schools across the country attended the launch day at the University of Warwick in April 2009. Over the following ten weeks the teams worked with their mentor, communicating online, to develop their own business idea, formulate a business plan and prepare a pitch. Business people from large organisations volunteered their time to guide teams through the weekly tasks, exploring all areas of business including product/idea development, market research, risk, marketing, sales, and finance.

The finale was held on 10 July at Warwick Business School. The teams spent the morning with their mentor running through their presentations and getting some last minute advice. The props were readied, presentations practised, ready for the afternoon. Half of the teams presented to the panel of judges whilst the remaining teams took part in a mini stock market challenge, before swapping.

The presentations were excellent, with some teams making innovative use of props and one team even making their first sales during the presentation. The judges, all high achieving business people, decided that the team with the best overall business idea was ‘4Lawnswood’ from Lawnswood School in Leeds. The winners were presented with a trophy and a take-home prize of a pocket video camera. The runners up were ‘Fly High’ from Barking Abbey, who each took home a new iPod Shuffle.

The winning team were treated to a VIP trip to London, to visit businesses and see the sights.

The competition enabled participants to learn new skills such as financial, communication and team working skills, but particularly business and presentation skills. Many said it also provided them with new skills that will help them in school and in their futures. The teams also really valued having a business mentor to guide them and offer the benefit of their experience.

Thank you to all involved!

See all the pictures from the Big Deal:

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