Be the Future
In collaboration with the Peter Jones Foundation, we are delighted to announce the winners of 2021's Be the Future challenge.
Tell me more about the 'Be the Future' Challenge
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 closed on Friday 19 March at 5.00 p.m. (GMT+1).
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.
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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.
- Name: Meikum Mahadevan
- Enterprise: No Hunger
- Key Stage: 3
What did the judges say?
"Meikum put the issue of No Hunger at the heart of his social enterprise idea. An articulate and passionate pitch highlighted his idea for affordable mobile food vans and fast food trucks. Meikum clearly understands the issue he is trying to address and has a practical and exciting enterprise idea to address it."
What did the winner say?
"I was pleasantly surprised to win this Be the Future Challenge in the KS3 category; there are just not enough adjectives to describe my joy. I would also like to take this time to thank my parents and teachers for helping me on my journey, I would also like to thank the panel for shortlisting my social enterprise and obviously The Peter Jones Foundation for giving me this opportunity to share my social enterprise. I think that these competitions which ask students to produce a social enterprise idea are really important for young students as this gives an opportunity for us to not only learn about these major issues in our current society but also helps us think about solutions to tackle these problems."
- Name: Luke Ruijgvoorn
- Enterprise: Sustainable Go Karting
- Key Stage: 4
What did the judges say?
"Luke created a novel and innovative idea to create a business centred around sustainable Go Karting. Thinking carefully about his enterprise idea he offered sustainable solutions that would differentiate his enterprise idea from a crowded market. An excellent practical solution to making Go Karting much more sustainable and environmentally friendly."
What did the winner say?
"When I found out I won I was very pleased. I didn’t expect to win but when I found out I couldn’t believe I had, and it felt like a moment that I would never forget. My idea for the competition was a sustainable go karting business using renewable energy sources and recycling clothes to make the race suits so none of it would go to waste."
- Name: Harriet Bellchambers and Freddie Thomas-Atkinson
- Enterprise: Zap It
- Key Stage: 5
What did the judges say?
"Freddie and Harriet came up with a vibrant and innovative enterprise idea called Zap It. Addressing the UN SDG 6 focussing on clean water and sanitation, Zap It utilises UV-C LED lights to create safe drinking water for people across the globe. A fantastic pitch that showed a developed knowledge and understanding of both the issue and the technology to resolve it."
What did the winner say?
"We are absolutely honoured to have won. Nowadays, people are becoming far more conscious of their social responsibilities as it's so important. We entered to learn more about how a social enterprise would work and the factors involved in the decision-making process."
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