Real Business Challenge For Enterprising Students
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
19 January 2011: Students at Ridgewood School in Doncaster are celebrating after being crowned national champions of the Coca-Cola Enterprises Real Business Challenge today, held at the prestigious headquarters of BAFTA in London.
This year's finalists earned their place by competing against other schools in regional heats across the UK, where they were tasked with generating ideas for the design, marketing, distribution and production of a new soft drink.
Created and organised by Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), the Real Business Challenge is an enterprise initiative linked to the national curriculum that aims to give students aged 14 and 15 genuine business experience and provide them with some of the skills and attributes needed in a work environment.
The seven regional winners from Scotland, Wales, London, the Midlands, the North East, South East and Yorkshire this afternoon travelled to the finals at BAFTA headquarters in London. Once there, the students were mentored by celebrity guest judge, Phil Packer MBE, as well as business professionals from CCE, who provided them with expert insight and advice to develop their product. Following presentations by the schools, Ridgewood was crowned the 2010 Real Business Challenge Champions.
The Real Business Challenge is formulated in partnership with Real Radio and Edexcel, the leading provider of internally recognised educational qualifications. Throughout the competition, the teams participated in a variety of workshops and received coaching from Real Radio and Edexcel representatives.
Simon Baldry, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Enterprises GB,
says: "Congratulations to Ridgewood School who beat stiff
competition to win the Real Business Challenge.
"Since its inception six years ago, more than 30,000 young people
have benefited from the programme. The Real Business
Challenge allows students to experience business first-hand and to
practice skills that will give them a competitive edge in the job
market. It is inspiring to see so many young people full of
innovation and enterprise and we are pleased to help foster their
entrepreneurial spirit."
Luke Shemilt, teacher at Ridgewood School, said: "We are so proud of the team who have worked incredibly hard and thoroughly deserve their success. It just goes to show that hard work and preparation pays off - our students have learned so much and it has been a really rewarding experience for them."
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Contact details: For further information please contact Anouchka
Burton, Coralie Esling or Elisabeth Middlemas at 3 Monkeys
Communications on cocacolaenterprises@3-monkeys.co.uk / 020 7009
3100
Notes to editors
The finalists were:
Rosedale College (London regional winners) Ridgewood School
(Yorkshire regional winners)Clayton Hall Business and Language
College (Midlands regional winners)Hebburn Comprehensive School
(North East regional winners)Reading Girls' School (South East
regional winners)Chepstow School (Wales regional winners)Strathaven
Academy (Scotland regional winners)
About Coca-Cola Enterprises:
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. is the world's third-largest independent Coca-Cola bottler. CCE is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
In Great Britain (GB) Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) employs around 4,500 people across England, Scotland and Wales at manufacturing sites, regional offices and depots.
CCE is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its products and operations, with a particular focus on sustainable packaging and recycling, water stewardship, and energy and climate protection.
About Edexcel
Edexcel is owned by Pearson, the world's leading education and information company, and is committed to developing resources offering youngsters the best possible chance for success in their lives. Pearson's commitment to the Real Business Challenge is a great way to capture the imagination of students whilst teaching them something too and they are working closely with CCE to include the Real Business Challenge learning activity as part of the accredited BTEC WorkSkills qualifications.
