LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!
The Skills Factor
The Skills Factor 2012
Welcome to the Skills Factor 2012: a national skills competition created by Young Chamber for 12 -19 year olds who want to demonstrate that they have the relevant skills, initiative, discipline and creativity to enter into the world of work.
Do you have what it takes to develop an idea and bring it to fruition, demonstrating your skills along the way? The idea, product or concept can be commercial, charitable or social in nature, but remember that as well as demonstrating and showing off your ideas, the competition also wants to see what skills you have learned or developed along the way - it's not just the end product that we want to see, it is also how you got there.
It’s free to enter and open to all young people involved in school or in college. Entries are also encouraged from youth groups and other youth organisations if they are:
- Aged between 12 and 19 years of age (at the competition opening in October 2011)
- In some form of full or part time education or training programme
What students gain
In the current economic climate, getting a job is not easy. Young people need an edge to show that they have the skills, initiative, creativity and self discipline to set up and establish a genuine business idea that would generate real interest in the marketplace. It could be running a school show, youth club, tuck shop, developing and running a club or small business, or even developing a ‘green project’ in the school or community.
Young people need to demonstrate the skills and qualities employers want to see in today’s employment market. The Skills Factor expects you to work to commercial style deadlines and deliver to them – real proof of a team’s abilities. It is something that can go onto CV’s or when applying for schools, colleges and jobs.
There are opportunities to get mentoring and support from local business through the YC network once teams have registered. All finalists will be invited to our prestigious final in London in July 2012.
How to enter
- Register your interest You can create your account now and then you have until 9th March 2012 to submit your completed entry form.
- Form as many teams as you like, as long as they have six members aged 12 to 19 years. There is no restriction on the number of teams you can enter.
- Work through the materials and the online entry form (you will have the opportunity to revisit and edit your entry as many times as you want before sending the final version).
- Submit the project via our online submission tool before the competition deadline: 9th March 2012.
- Wait to see if you have made it through to the semi-finals. Semi-finalists will be informed on the 19th March 2012. You will then have until the 1st May 2012 to submit your entry to be judged by a panel consisting of YC affiliated business people.
- The Final will take place in London on Wednesday 4th July 2012.