Competition
Future 100
Are you a successful and responsible entrepreneur?
Striving to improve the economy, environment and society?
At Striding Out we are searching for talented young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture in the run up to Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 -17th - 21st November.
TO FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY CLICK HERE
Are you ready to take the leap?
Are you setting the pace in the entrepreneurial market place?
We want young dynamic people with fresh, innovative, high growth business ideas, who are ready to take the leap to turn their idea into a reality.
If you are interested in registering for our 2009 Big Leap Competition please register your details here or sign up to the newsletter on the right hand side and we'll let you know when we are taking entries.
The Big Leap is open for young people aged between 18-30.
It aims to energize and prepare you to get up and go, with a focus on interactive learning, coaching and peer group support.
The support package consists of:-
- Get Plugged In Coaching Circles - Four group coaching circles during April to September delivered by a Striding Out Coach.
- Training to develop a Business Plan- A five day apprentice-style business bootcamp between 21st - 25th April facilitated by professional experts.
- Membership to the Striding Out community - One year membership and access to events throughout the year
- £500 prize reward will be given to one overall winner who achieves the highest score for their business plans when they are judged in September 2008.
- The winner for each category will be invited to participate in an investment readiness package provided by Angels Den.
Big Leap Winners 2008
1st Place - Amy Winters and Kseniya Zagorodnyuk, Founders of Couture Clubbing
Couture Clubbing creates clothes for high-end nightclubs and other glamorous red-carpet events. Unique couture pieces are created for special events including fashion galas, concerts and award ceremonies. They use fabrics that react to sound, light and atmosphere which are especially suited to entertainment. Amy and Kseniya have recently been shortlisted for the Channel 4Talent award and received £30,000 of R&D funding from the Technology Strategy Board.
Striding Out gave us that essential (and inspiring) piece of training in what turned out to be a supportive environment. All the young entrepreneurs on the course had imagination, determination and energy but not necessarily a formal business background. The interactive seminars, tasks and support network of the programme helped us transform a basic idea into what is now an investment-ready business. We are now working with primary technological companies and have even been featured on Sky News. Striding Out has offered entrepreneurs like us that vital push which turns ideas into business reality.
Check out our interview with Amy Winters2nd Place - Lily Lapenna, Founder of MyBnk
MyBnk is an educational social enterprise that provides young people with the skills to manage their money effectively. MyBnk has created the first ever FSA friendly youth led banking scheme run by young people for young people, allowing them to save and take out interest free loans for the setting up of enterprising activities. This is accompanied by high-powered assemblies, workshops and projects on ethical banking, money management and ideas generation. Lily was recently awarded the Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, by the Edge Upstarts Awards
'Striding out has helped me lay the foundation for MyBnk to grow from a single pilot project in Tower Hamlets to a social enterprise working with 10,000 young people across London. The striding out bootcamp, group coaching circles and individual coaching sessions have helped me to develop a clear vision, to consolidate a strong team, to build effective networks and to do all this with a constant sense of fun and passion. I recommend becoming part of Striding Out to all social entrepereneurs'
3rd Place - Chris Jenkins, founder of TLM
TLM consults with large leisure/event facilities, sporting stadia, music companies, and government bodies. They focus on audience development and demand generation and are working on innovative projects with Live Nation, Creative and Cultural Skills, Nottingham Arena, BIC/Pavilion and Solent Leisure are some of TLM dynamic clients and partners. Chris has recieved an award by the British Chamber of Commerce for the Most Promising New Business last month.
'Striding Out allowed me to pick the brains of like-minded entrepreneurs about to embark on spectacular business adventures. Starting a new business from scratch is hugely exciting, but also incredibly challenging; Striding Out helped provide that support and encouragement needed, giving you the confidence to make that big leap, and leave that salary behind!. If there is one thing a start-up needs to know; it's you're not alone.'
The Big Leap Contestants were given access to Get Charged Up Coaching Circles, a five day apprentice-style business bootcamp.
The winners will be put forward for investment to the Angels Den.
The Big Leap was kindly supported by the following local authorities in London - Ealing , Croydon, Bexley , Hillingdon , Hammersmith and Fulham , Islington , Camden and Manchester - Oldham , Tameside , Rochdale , and Bury .
The Big Leap Entrepreneurial Competition is part of The WorldSkills Competition. The world's largest international skills competition aimed at young people. UK partners, Striding Out are hosting the UK Big Leap Entrepreneurial Competition 2008 focused on developing the business and vocational skills of entrepreneurs aged 18-30, helping them achieve success.
WorldSkills UK incorporates the UK's premier set of skills competitions for students, trainees and employees. Competitions are a great way to engage, inspire and motivate young people to work towards their personal aspirations. http://www.worldskillsuk.org/
Big Leap Winner and Runner Up 2007
What are they up to now....Eiman Munro, founder of LoopGames and Matt Kepple, founder of Wewillmakeit..find out more
Big Leap Winner and Runner Up 2006
What are they up to now...Cath Conway, founder of Unpackaged and Ben Keene, founder of Tribewanted...find out more
