Nearly three-quarters of Bristol’s secondary schools have signed up to take part in the 2012 RSG Bristol Young Student of the Year Awards, a practical competition that pairs students with businesses to create employment opportunities across the city.
More than 100 students from the 16 participating schools attended the awards launch at Ashton Gate stadium yesterday – almost double the number of participants that took part in last year’s inaugural competition.
Now in its second year, the competition aims bridge the gap between employers and young people and is open to 16-19 year olds. It is free to enter for all state schools, colleges and academies in the Bristol region.
Run over six months, the competition has three stages and presents students with the opportunity to win a life-changing £15,000 BPP University College scholarship alongside a number of other prizes including internships, work placements and jobs.
The theme for this year’s competition is Bristol Young Futures, which will involve pairing students with real clients from key industry sectors in Bristol.
Participating students will be tasked with working with their clients to create a concept that feeds directly into a dedicated online portal, which will showcase a number of career opportunities available to young people in the region.
Organisers hope it will help address the rising levels of unemployment within this age group in the local area.
The competition has already attracted significant backing from Clifton-based national recruitment company Resource Solutions Group (RSG), which has pledged to become the competition’s main sponsors for at least two years.
Other supporters include The Society of Merchant Venturers and BPP University College. Bristol Business News is supporting the awards as media partner for the second year.
RSG chief executive Mike Beesley said: “Up-skilling a generation and facilitating the transfer from the student to commercial world is a difficult task. However, a competition such as this, where students can immerse themselves in the business world yet retain the necessary support and guidance from their schools, is an excellent mechanism to help ease the transition.
“We are delighted that schools across the city have recognised the importance and effectiveness of this event and its significance in today’s economic climate. Increasing commercial awareness in young people is key, both for their future and that of the UK economy.”
Awards founder, event organiser Elaine Brown, added: “As a group of employers who organise this competition we recognise the importance of developing employability skills in young people. We are therefore delighted to receive such enthusiasm and support for this year’s competition from the schools in and around the city.
“It is testament to the success of last year’s competition and we are really looking forward to working with the schools involved to help up-skill and potentially create job opportunities for young people, which is critical to the local economy.”
The winner of last year’s Bristol Young Student award Harrison Trapnell, 17, is employed part-time by RSG as administrator on this year’s competition.
Harrison said: “Last year’s competition went extremely well and I think that is why it has attracted so much interest this year. It was fantastic to be part of the first ever competition, and to win the overall award and BPP scholarship was such an honour. I learnt a great deal from the process and therefore I am glad that so many schools in the city have recognised what the event can do for their students. I am thoroughly enjoying being involved in the organisation of this year’s award.”
Alison Wood, assistant head teacher at Gordano School, one of the schools taking part, commented: “Last year’s competition was extremely worthwhile and very exciting for all the students who took part. I felt each and every participant that completed the task learnt something from the experience.”
“Up-skilling this generation of students is extremely important, not only for their own future, but for the future of the economy as a whole, especially in today’s climate. It can take many years in industry to learn commercial skills, so a competition of this nature is extremely effective in introducing student to the business world. We wish all students entering the best of luck and hope that they will make the most of this opportunity and all it has to offer.”
Yesterday’s launch involved an introduction to the competition and its aims and interactive tasks such as mock interviews and a ‘press conference’ Q&A session with student ambassadors from last year’s event.
Pictured: Bristol Young Student Awards founder Elaine Brown and RSG chief executive Mike Beesley with students taking part in the scheme
