The Big Deal is an enterprise challenge that forms a core part of Warwick’s UniTracks programme in the first year. It is a 10-week programme where school teams create and develop either a business or social enterprise idea with the assistance of a dedicated Business Mentor and Student Mentor. The Big Deal is organised by Heather Broadbent and Georgia Stanley from Warwick Business School (WBS), in conjunction with the educational charity the Brightside Trust.

For the first time, the Big Deal Launch took place over two days, from Friday 15 to Saturday 16 January. Thirteen of the UniTracks schools are taking part this year, who are:

Barking Abbey School, Barrs Hill School, Bordesley Green Girls’ School, Dagenham Park C of E School, Dowdales School, Eastbury Community School, Lady Manners School, Sandwell Academy, St Michael’s CE High School, Testwood Sports College, The Warren School, Ulverston Victoria High School and Whitley Academy.

Staying overnight meant that the teams got to meet their Mentors in a relaxed atmosphere on Friday evening, and start to build up their rapport by doing a quiz together – well done to the team from Dowdales School who won!

On Saturday, the teams spent the day in their ‘hub room’ working on their first tasks and generating lots of ideas for their business or social enterprise idea. All teams were working hard throughout, as they are all super keen to get to the Grand Final, taking place in the Shard in April. We look forward to welcoming the teams back onto campus in March for the Presentation Heats!