Competition
Are you ready to take the LEAP....
Young and Dynamic?
Fresh, Innovative High Growth Business Idea?
Take the Big Leap and ....
Get your hands on £500, and training from leading business experts.
The Big Leap Competition is open to young people aged between 18-30 who are at the pre-start or early stages of running a business.
The competition focusses on helping young people complete their business plan and develop their entrepreneurial skills to succeed in business.
TEN finalists have been chosen to participate in the 2009 Big Leap Bootcamp and Business Plan Competition.
Check out the ten finalists below.
The overall winner will be announced in October 2009.
At age 16, I founded a company which turned £40 into £650 in 1 month in a national business competition. Now at 18, I want to continue my entrepreneurial ambitions with social impacts, as well as incorporating my passion for languages and culture, through my newly found venture-Cathay Cultural Exchange.
Website: http://www.cathayculturalexchange.co.uk/
Tom Latchford
Website: http://www.hair-raising.org/
Jessica van Zanten
A young, talented entrepreneur behind Dulwich Jewellery School, a new jewellery training centre based in South London. She started out in 2005 by attending evening jewellery classes and hasn't looked back ever since. She is now a fully trained jeweller and teacher in many areas of jewellery making and is working towards developing the school into a successful not-for profit jewellery organisation.
Website: http://www.dulwichjewellery.co.uk/
Chris Shoebridge
Magali Heyberger
Website: http://www.nobuntu.com/
Marcel Deer - Finalist sponsored by Liverpool Vision
Since 2007 I have already successfully managed a music promotions company for two years, managing over 30 events across Liverpool. I am now launching Shellshock New Media Training to train businesses how to use social media tools as efficient new marketing tools.
Liz Newton
Liz has worked in television production developing science programmes for two years. She is now one of the co-directors of Molehill Media, a new video production company specialising in promotional videos for science and nature-based organisations. Molehill Media has already secured commissions from a number of local organisations. Website: http://www.molehillmedia.co.uk/
Adam Foster - Finalist sponsored by Hillingdon Council
I am developing an independent media production company, which will produce content for television, radio and new media. We will also work with young people to train them in the production of programming.
Web http://www.d9medialimited.co.uk/
Charlotte Goble
We wanted to create something to be passionate about, something that could make a real difference in people's lives. The Student Lottery, run online twice a year, to support causes chosen by students, aims to inspire students to bring forward their own causes, making their own impression on the world.
SquidLondon is an exciting venture consisting of two designers from the London College of Fashion. Squid has high aims of paving the way designers collaborate with different industries by developing interactive technologies. We create ‘walking pieces of art’ currently in the form of an umbrella interacting with the rain. Our most recent collaboration with Tate Modern will be launched in the Tate London and
These ten finalists will receive the following prize package:-
Business Coaching and Mentoring - A package of one to one business coaching and mentoring sessions to keep you on track. Mentors provided by Business in the Commuinity.
Bootcamp 2nd -5th April- Training to develop a business plan and key entrepreneurial skills Training was provided by our expert trainers.
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Heather Wilkinson, Striding Out - Specialist in Business Strategy and Networking
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Suzanne Cleal, Striding Out - Specialist in Marketing and Communications
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Grant Leboff, Intelligent Sales Club - Specialist in Sales and Marketing
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Helen Parkins - Specialist in Legal
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Dean Shepherd, MMI - Specialist in Finance and Accountancy
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Chris Hough, Natural Ranks - Specialist in Information Technology
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Fiona Biggins, Figuring Out - Specialist in Recruitment and Team Building
"The Big Leap Bootcamp has been an invaluable experience, giving me access to business professionals that I would never have usually had the chance to meet. Everything from finance and law to marketing and networking was covered, and I feel 100% more confident about writing a successful business plan now.
Everyone at the bootcamp had very different business ideas, but we were able to help each other by giving support, feedback and advice to the others in the group.
I'm more motivated now than ever before to get Molehill Media off the ground and into the marketplace. Striding Out provided a professional, well-organised and fun four days - the Big Leap competition was the best thing I could have done to get a head start in business!" Liz Newton
A £500 prize reward will be given to one overall winner who achieves the highest score for their business plan when they are judged in September 2009.
The Big Leap Entrepreneurial Competition is run in partnership with UK Skills as 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/
Business in the Community is supporting our Big Leap contestants by providing specialist mentors to help them develop their business skills and acumen.
The Big Leap is also supported by the British Library, Business and IP Centre, who is provided the training venue and market research training for the participants.
The Big Leap Winners in 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.'
Big Leap Winner 2007 and 2008
Eiman Munro, founder of Loop Games and Cath Conway, founder of Unpackaged 
Future 100
Are you a successful and responsible entrepreneur?
Striving to improve the economy, environment and society?
At Striding Out every year we search for talented young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture. TO FIND OUT MORE CLICK HERE