Member Article

New North East youth design and enterprise competition launches

A prominent design network in the region is ready to launch a new young people’s initiative that aims to give 14-25 year olds the chance to turn their creative ideas into a viable business.

Design Network North , a project delivered by RTC North based in Sunderland, have been awarded funding by RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise, and have created a 3 stage challenge entitled ’Design, Develop Deliver: The 3D Challenge’. The competition will take participants across three age categories, through the important stages of the process of turning their design ideas into reality and setting up their own business!

A special ’Inspiration Event’, designed to help potential entrants come up with ideas, will be held at the Discovery Museum on Wednesday 13th November 1-4pm and is free to attend. The event will also showcase some of the region’s top designers who will be on hand to offer advice, tips and inspiration!

The theme of the challenge is Travel, Transport and Tourism and asks young people to come up with designs for products or services that could make travel more efficient, enjoyable or accessible, as well as promoting tourism and attractions in the region and beyond! Successful design ideas will be whittled down to 12 of the best, who will have the chance to see their design produced and made into a saleable product!

The competition is open to anyone aged 14-25 who may have an idea, no matter what their field of study and entries can be submitted via the website from the 7th October until the 13th January 2014. Further information on the challenge, how to get involved and how to submit your entries is available on the website www.3dchallenge.co.uk

RTC North is a business growth and innovation company helping clients develop new products and reach new markets. Its Design Network North project aims to promote the importance of good design within industry and helps companies develop new product ideas with local design houses.

Gordon Ollivere MBE, CEO of RTC North said: “As a company, we work closely with hundreds of local companies every year. One of the key messages we hear back from clients relates to skills and particularly their ability to find young people with an interest in science, technology and engineering. For that reason, I will continue to support projects such as ‘The 3D Challenge’ which aims to inspire young people and use their creativity and enterprise to solve technical challenges.”

The 3D Challenge is a project designed and delivered by Design Network North and RTC North with funding provided by RTC North, RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise and ERDF. European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emily Pearson .