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A Big Idea can change your life.

Vote for your 2026 Winner!

ABOUT

If you are a college student who dreams about starting your own business one day, the Big Idea Challenge is the competition for you! You will learn how to develop your idea into a powerful business model and pitch it to the world.

We want to hear about your idea, and how it solves real problems and wows customers.

PREVIOUS FINALISTS

SEE 2025 FINALISTS
SEE 2024 FINALISTS
SEE 2023 FINALISTS
SEE 2022 FINALISTS
SEE 2021 FINALISTS

STAGES

STAGE 1: TELL US YOUR IDEA

STAGE 1: TELL US YOUR IDEA

Got an amazing idea? Well you’re in the right place. For your chance to develop your Big Idea and win amazing prizes the first thing you need to do is tell us about it.

ENTER NOW
STAGE 2: BOOTCAMP DAY

STAGE 2: BOOTCAMP DAY

The teams behind the top ideas from each college will take part in an all day bootcamp hosted by NatWest. You will have coaching to develop your idea and learn how to pitch it from incredible mentors.

STAGE 3: PITCHES AND PRIZES

STAGE 3: PITCHES AND PRIZES

The best ideas will be made into a 60 second video pitch which will be voted on by the public and the winners will walk away with prizes including free websites, internships and business mentoring to turn your idea into a reality!

CATEGORIES

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL

Ideas that have the potential to become successful commercial businesses. We want to see innovative ideas that have a large potential market and add value that people will be prepared to pay for.

SOCIAL IMPACT

SOCIAL IMPACT

Ideas that will have a positive impact on our communities and the world beyond. This could be an environmental, social or other not-for profit idea that helps those who need it most.

CREATIVE

CREATIVE

Do you have an idea for a new product, an exhibition, or a way to make our city more vibrant? Or perhaps you have an idea that will help creative people reach new audiences and be more successful.

Colleges

  • “Newham College is delighted to be taking part in the Big Idea Challenge and our students have been inspired to unleash their potential and come up with some great business ideas”

    JULIA BOLLAM Newham College

  • “The Big Idea challenge is a wonderful opportunity for students from a broad range of subjects to engage with business ideas. Our students had a great time at the kick off workshop and are excited about taking their ideas to the next stage of the competition.”

    MIRANDA GAY Hackney Community College
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and many more…

If you are a college in London and want to be part of the Big Idea Challenge, get in touch.

TAKE PART

Take part in Big Idea 2025

Want to take part in the 2025 Big Idea Challenge for 6th Form Colleges? Simply complete the form below and someone from our Schools & Colleges team will follow up with you.

Contact Us

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