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Microsoft lends support to youth competition

Microsoft have joined forces with BT and One NorthEast to help young minds in the North East to turn creative ideas into working ICT products. As part of the 2007-08 Big Ideas ICT Youth Challenge, teams of young people will be pitching their ideas to professionals over the next seven months.

Teams between the ages of 11 and 20 will present their ideas for an original ICT solution to businesspeople from across the country before the competition culminates with a week-long residential.

Jason Ollivent, North of England Business Manager for Microsoft UK, said: “Great ideas happen in exciting places and throughout history many important ideas have blossomed in the North East that have revolutionised the world - including the electric light and the steam locomotive. The ICT Youth Challenge offers young people of the North East the chance to come up with the next big idea in ICT and at the same time gain invaluable business skills.”

Now in its second year, the Big Ideas ICT Youth Challenge is delivered by the Big Ideas facility at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC).

Lisa Smith, Big Ideas Manager, said: “The competition exists to promote innovative ideas that involve developing new technologies, or that use existing technologies in a way that has never been done before. Therefore, to have the support of Microsoft, the world leader in Information Technology is absolutely fantastic.”

The first two rounds will see teams pitching ideas to judges from organisations including Microsoft, BT and One NorthEast. The first pitch of the competition takes place on 30 January at Big Ideas HQ, with 35 teams presenting ideas to business experts.

For more information on the Big Ideas ICT Youth Challenge contact Lisa Smith at Big Ideas on 0191 516 6075 or visit www.bigideasyouthchallenge.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .