Solutions for the Planet 2019

“The Solutions for the Planet programme is a fantastic opportunity to network with colleagues and schools participating in this years programme , as well as understand more about the ethos and objectives of S4TP approach to learning and innovation.”

Sam Oliver, finance project manager

2019 saw the completion of another successful year supporting Solutions for the Planet’s Big Ideas Programme. 62 Tarmac employees from across the country provided expertise and guidance to support the students with their business plans and presentations.

This year Solutions for the Planet were shortlisted in the Social Enterprise UK Awards for Employment, Training and Jobs category and Jen Baughan, CEO of Solutions for the Planet, was included in the shortlist as Entrepreneur for Good at the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in the South West.

Highlights of the 2018-19 Big Ideas programme:

• 3,887 students from 29 schools participated
• 785 Big Ideas generated
• 169 Big Ideas submitted to the competition involving 840 students
• 259 students participated in one of 6 regional-final events (72 teams)
• 149 business mentors supported the school this year

Some of our mentors attended the regional and national finals to support the teams they had been mentoring. The national final was held at the Palace of Westminster, where teams from schools across the UK presented their ideas to an audience of local MPs, business mentors, teachers and their peers.

The winning team from Mayfield School in Portsmouth, impressed the judging panel with their innovative idea for a bus powered by a combination of renewable energy sources.

Runners up from Arden Academy in Solihull designed a waterproof product to use in the bathroom to save water and the third-place team from Hall Cross Academy, Doncaster, presented a kit of bee-friendly essentials to help transform local environments.