Purpose

To build students’ business skills using subjects that are relevant to their age group. The aim is to develop Technology, Business & Community skills and the project always includes a Charity.

From an Employer’s perspective – a key objective is to lead students directly into career apprenticeships.

Colleges

Barking & Dagenham College
Birmingham Metropolitan College
Westminster Kingsway College
Coleg Gwent

Sector

Digital

Sponsor/Employer

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
The Prince’s Trust
BBC
UK Active

Short Description

Initiated by CCT in 2015, and working with a different Charity every year, AWS was invited to sponsor the project – to introduce students to `real life’ working environments and address the Skills Gap in an area that directly affects AWS and specifically the Digital sector.

Students are given a `Brief’ posing a question related to the charity, then work together in teams and develop solutions to address the issue specifically using Digital Technology.

For example, when working with the Samaritans, students were asked to look at solutions to the issue of mental and physical wellbeing – in particular male suicide; or when working with the Prince’s Trust to address the issue of knife crime.

Students are exposed to real-world environments (visiting a Digital Fashion Studio or a corporate head office) and offered the opportunity to learn from experts in their field (e.g. user experience & website design specialists Experience Haus).

They are required to submit their pitches, which are then reviewed, and finalists selected. This culminates in a series of presentations and a Grand Final (at AWS’s office in London) and individual students, colleges & project teams are awarded prizes in specific categories.

The project continues as an annual event and attracts over 1,000 students per year.

Legacy

Students (including those received prizes, as well as those who simply participated) have been introduced to business networks, interviewed for roles (including for example, top Consultancy firms), some have been employed and others have even set up their own businesses. Participating students have either progressed into further education (university, degree apprenticeship, etc.) or employment, but all have improved their career prospects.