Be the Future

In collaboration with the Peter Jones Foundation, we are delighted to be relaunching the social enterprise competition for learners in school or college.

Develop enterprise skills by addressing a social or environmental issue

The challenge is to create a social enterprise idea that addresses a social or environmental issue, such as poverty, climate change or inequality. We want to hear your ideas for a social enterprise that could work to resolve these issues.

The social enterprise should:

Address a social or environmental issue
Link to one of the UN’s sustainable development goals
Be able to make a profit through selling a product or a service

Entries will be reviewed in relation to the following criteria:

creativity and innovation
viability
sustainability and impact.

Submissions will be categorised by learners' Key Stage.

Please note, learners will have to ask their teachers/tutors to enter for them.

Entries are closed for 2022.

What is a social enterprise?

A social enterprise is a business focused on the selling of either products or services that address social and environmental issues. They generate income, like other businesses, but will invest the majority of their profits into the cause they are aiming to address. They blend entrepreneurial skills from the private sector with values of public service.

Prize

Learners with the top entries will win an online enterprise workshop, hosted by the Peter Jones Foundation, with the opportunity to meet and hear from leading social entrepreneurs. This will be a unique learning experience for the learners behind the best social enterprise ideas and will be delivered in the Summer (2021/22) term at a time to be arranged with the winners. There will be separate workshops for the different Key Stage winners.

How to enter

Step One - Prepare your entry

Step Two - Choose your entry format

Learners may choose between two entry formats:

1. Create a presentation pitch

Create a slideshow presentation that explores your social enterprise idea.

2. Submit a video pitch

Create a video pitch, which can be up to 2 minutes long. It should be interesting, memorable, and succinct. It should also explain what makes the social enterprise idea unique.

The video can be shot in selfie mode on a smart phone.
It should be a clear and concise explanation of the issue your business is trying to address and how the social enterprise will address it.

Step Three - Prepare your entry

Step Four - Submit your entry

In partnership with the Peter Jones Foundation

We’re delighted that the Peter Jones Foundation has agreed to work in partnership with Pearson to encourage learners across the UK to explore their entrepreneurial spirit and develop their skills to become young entrepreneurs.