Skills Factor 2012 - The Results!
Young students from across the country enjoyed an amazing day at Wembley (on 4th July) when they not only competed in The Skills Factor 2012 Finals but also enjoyed an audience with multi-talented Entertainer Tim Minchin, Adventurer Steve Backshall and CBBC TV Presenter Saira Khan.
Amidst strong competition, the team from King Edward VI School took first prize and became Winners of The Skills Factor 2012 with their enterprising project idea, ‘PopAway’, a popcorn service run in a similar way to traditional ice cream vans. Deyes High School came second with the production of a variety show ‘The Show Must Go On’ for the whole community to take part in either by way of performance or attendance. Third prize went to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls who developed a revision resource for students.
Alongside The Skills Factor, Young Chamber UK ran the Battle of the Bands competition sponsored by Roland UK and in association with Platform One College of Music. This competition provides an opportunity for young people to showcase their enterprise skills alongside their music talent and creative abilities. The winning band for 2012 was ‘Not So Anonymous’ from Bradley Stoke Post 16 Centre, a very determined group of young students who wanted to take the opportunity of performing at Wembley to show “that we can do anything if we want it bad enough”.
Mark Prisk MP, Minister for Business and Enterprise said: “It is great to see young enthusiastic people getting the chance to showcase their enterprise skills on a national stage. The national Skills Factor Challenge gives budding entrepreneurs a great opportunity to gain practical, real life experiences that will give them the confidence to pursue business as a viable career option. I would like to congratulate everyone who took part and wish all of the winners the best of luck in what I hope will be an enterprising future for them.”
Kevin Smith, Chief Executive of Young Chamber UK said : “The competition was really strong amongst all the finalists and they all demonstrated they had the necessary business and employability skills required by today’s employers. The Winners, King Edward VI School, demonstrated a real entrepreneurial spirit, a sound business case and a product that could potentially work commercially. Congratulations go to all the teams for doing so well to reach the finals. The entries were very impressive.”
The Skills Factor competition is organised by Young Chamber UK and challenges teams of young people aged 12 to 19 to show they have the skills, initiative, creativity and discipline to enter the world of work. Teams from schools, colleges or youth organisation have to develop business ideas, show how they would be put into action, and demonstrate the personal and business skills they have learned along the way.
The six finalists were :
- Smash the Lights from Deyes High School in Merseyside
- Inspire from Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
- The CD Project from Cherwell School, Oxford
- Events R Us from Cowes Enterprise College, Isle of Wight
- Captivate (Popaway) from King Edwards School, Bury St Edmunds
- Alpha from Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
The three finalists for the Battle of the Bands were :
- Various (Fyrefight) from Writhlington, Banes
- Not so Anonymous from Bradley Stoke Post 16 Centre, South Gloucester
- Unfair Illusion Glenthorne High School, Surrey