Futures’ host Young Innovators Competition to Celebrate Entrepreneurship in Schools

Over the last 5 weeks, 60 students from Bluecoat Beechdale and Nottingham Academy have been developing ideas to address Stress, Anxiety and Depression. A winning idea from each school with receive funding to develop their idea further.

Twelve teams of Year Nine pupils were set the task of coming up with innovative, business-based schemes to tackle stress, anxiety and depression. Four winning teams were chosen during a series of presentations at Nottingham’s Council House yesterday.

Peter Brammall, Chief Executive at Futures said, “Today has highlighted the importance of celebrating and funding projects like this. It’s been a really inspiring morning. Bluecoat Beechdale and Nottingham Academy have blown us away with their innovative ideas.”

Five pupils from Bluecoat Beechdale Academywon the first Nottingham Young Innovators Competition, with their plan to write and stage a play about knife crime. The Year Nine GCSE drama students were inspired to take on the project after one of their friendswas stabbed and another was robbed at knife-point. Group member Holly Loftus added: “We want young people to understand and consider the consequences of carrying knives.”

The other three winning groupsdrew up plans to tackle racism, negative body images and the lack of formal teaching about career progression.

Commercial Director, Sandra Cowley, sat on the judging panel, “It was a privilege to be in a room full of amazing ideas that were all pitched with such passion.”

Futuresran the competition backed by Nottingham’s Haydn Green Foundation for Entrepreneurship. We also worked with Think Forward to deliver 2 hour workshops with each student group to support them in developing their thoughts and ideas.