The winning ‘company’ Branch Learning with the judges, back row from left, students Noah Thompson, Quinn Cooper, Mr Hamish Jones, Ms Jane Brice, Mr Ian Proudfoot and Ms Meagan Hughes; front row: Mr Mark McLeay, Jasmine Deans, Isla Thompson, Honey Jama and Abby Irwin.
A concept for a social media platform to help students study won the 2017 BP Business Challenge, run over three days from August 2-4.
The Commerce Department hosts the Challenge each year. Run via the Young Enterprise Trust, a small but focused group of Year 10 and Year 11 Commerce students are put through an experiential learning programme, where they develop skills to create and articulate a business plan.
Charged with creating a unique product to solve a potential market problem, this year’s student ideas were expansive and forward thinking. Among the other concepts presented were clothing that charged the wearer’s cellphone using static energy, an expandable LED screen for smartphones and tablets, and clothing that heated itself to keep the wearer warm.
On the final day the students delivered their ideas to judges from the local community, detailing expected customers, prices, strengths and weaknesses. Each group also delivered a short, yet potentially viral video to advertise their product.
The judges were impressed with the quality of work from all the groups. Their choice for winner was Branch Learning, who delivered a comprehensive presentation for their student-led social media platform for studying. Congratulations to Isla Thompson, Abby Irwin, Quinn Cooper, Honey Jama, Noah Thompson and Jasmine Deans for their excellent work. The judges finished with special mention for Matthew Fan, Marketing Director for Static Charge, for his excellent promotional pitch.
The Commerce Department would like to thank the judges: Hamish Jones and Meagan Hughes from BP, Ian Proudfoot – Director of Agribusiness KPMG, Jane Brice – Head of Rural Business ASB, and Mark McLeay – Director mADNZ, for their time and effort in judging our students’ work.