Move over 'The Apprentice'.. On Wednesday, 21 March, The Big Deal launched its 2012 competition for teenage members of Warwick's Goal Programme, mentored by an industry expert, to come up with a viable business proposal. The Goal Programme aims to raise education aspirations in gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The competition will run until 5 July.

The Big Deal 2012

The Big Deal is a business enterprise competition for Year 10 members of the University of Warwick's Goal Programme. Students form teams of two to four, in school groups, and work with a business mentor to develop a business or social enterprise idea, formulate a business plan and then create a business pitch for a panel of judges. All teams present their ideas to a panel of judges at the finale and the winning team is treated to an all expenses paid business trip to Italy.

The Goal Programme

Goal is a membership programme run by Warwick, that works with gifted students in specially selected schools across England. Teachers nominate students to join the programme in year 10 (aged 14-15), benefitting from four years’ of support, until they leave school. The programme aims to increase aspiration and achievement to enable these students to gain places at the UK’s top universities. Support is offered through a series of events, opportunities and interventions as well as information, advice and guidance for these students, who may not get this support elsewhere.

To find out more, visit the Goal Programme website or email William Rupp, Student Admissions and Recruitment Office, Widening Participation.

Pictured right: mentor, Mari Ollerenshaw, with last year's winners, Team Empire, whose idea involved promoting healthy lifestyles to school pupils.