The winners announced so far are listed below and will compete in a national contest to be held next January.
A CEE spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “The Real Business Challenge is designed to encourage and develop enterprise in young people. It aims to give students aged 14 and 15 genuine business experience and insight, potentially increasing employability and providing them with some of the skills and attributes needed in the work environment.
“It is also designed to offer insight into the manufacturing industry and demonstrate the range of careers available in the industry.”
London Olympics
The focus of this year’s contest is sustainability. The UK was divided into regional heats, with schools challenged to design a fruit drink for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At the regional finals, short-listed schools were asked to design a campaign to encourage consumers to litter less and recycle more in the lead up to the Olympics. This included designing a billboard and a radio jingle.
The spokesman said: “Schools receive mentoring and guidance from CCE professionals to help develop their business ideas before presenting them to the Real Business Challenge judging panel. Teams are scored on their enterprise ability – including team-work, creativity, business viability and presentation skills.”
Although none of the students’ ideas will be used “in any business capacity by CCE”, the billboard of each regional winner will be professionally produced and displayed in the school’s local area in mid-January next year.
Wembley Arena
Regional finalists will go on to meet in a national final, to be held in Wembley Arena on January 25, 2012. In the final contest, teams will have one day to complete a new challenge involving sustainability, with an overall winner being announced at the end of the day.
The winners announced so far are:
- Yorkshire, Huntington School, York
- North East, Cramlington Learning Village, near Newcastle
- North West, Turton High School, Bolton
- East Midlands, Oakgrove School in Milton Keynes
- West Midlands, Four Dwellings High School in Quinton, Birmingham
- South East, Newlands School, Maidenhead
Regional winners for Scotland, Wales, London and East Anglia have yet to be announced.
The competition, which was launched in 2003, is linked to the national curriculum and accredited by Edexcel – a provider of educational qualifications.
Last year the Real Business Challenge programme won gold in the Education category at the Food and Drink Federation’s Community Partnership Awards.