February 2011: Accolade for Hull

Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership has been recognised by Enterprise UK for successfully running an inspiring, impactful programme of events during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010.

Hull partners are allowed to use the enclosed Badge of Honour to show that recognition. Hull is one of just 131 out of over 700 Global Entrepreneurship Week event organisers who have qualified for this accolade - Enterprise UK were particularly impressed with our wider partnership approach and our link up with Mail News and Media.

December 2010: We Have Our Winners!

During Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010 young people from Hull pitched their business ideas to former BBC Apprentice star Ruth Badger. Young people from across the city entered the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge under four different categories and the winners of the first round pitched their idea for the chance to double their winnings.

The competition had over 1,500 hits on the website www.hullbadgers.co.uk, which resulted in 112 enquiries, 42 entries and 21 projects that were shortlisted to 'pitch' to the judges. All the entrants had to present their idea to the first judging panel, made up of people from the public, private and community sectors. There were some fantastic entries, and many of them walked away with vouchers and sponsorship deals.

The finalists were:

Under 11 Team was Longhill Records UK, East Hull

Under 16 Team was Crazy Critters West Hull

16 - 18 Team was Xuro Computers East Hull

19 - 21 Team was Heista Fuels Ltd West Hull

The final judging panel took place on Thursday 18th November and Ruth Badger was joined by Mark Jones, the council's Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, Neil Hudgell the Chairman of Hull Kingston Rovers, Richard Tuplin from the Institute of Directors, Phil Batty, Managing Director of Force-7 and Sarah Longthorn, Founder of Wedge Welly.

The overall winner was Crazy Critter World led by Bronwyn Wilson and her cousin Ben who overall secured £1,750 investment into their busness idea and the chance to develop a new website with the support of Ruth Badger.

A special merit award went to Longhill Records UK who secured £600 investment into their Xmas CD

Ruth Badger, said:

"I love visiting Hull as it is an enterprising city and I really enjoy sharing my journey with budding young entrepreneurs who really want to make a difference in the business world. I am really pleased that our partnership with the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank has bee such a great success and all those that reached the finals are a credit to the city of Hull."

June 2010: Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge launched

In response to Hull's highly successful Business Week celebrations June 2010 that involved a number of young entreprenurs and enterprising school children from St Nicholas Primary School, Sydney Smith School, St Mary's College, Archbishop Sentamu and Malet Lambert School and in response to research undertaken by Force-7 to identify what young people want from enterprise education and support services to help them develop their enterprising idea Hull has established a new enterprise challenge.

Hull Training, John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank in partnership with Force-7, HWS Hosting and GH Events have launched a Dragons' Den-style competition for young people aged up to 21 (if you are in formal/informal education or training), called the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge named in honour of former BBC Apprentice Finalists Ruth Badger so they can pitch for funding to support their enterprising idea with up to £5,000 at stake in prize money.

Maureen Foers OBE Yorkshire's Women's Enterprise Champion and Chair of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank stated: "I hope you decide to enter Hull's Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge , the sort of things we as judges working for Ruth will be looking for in your applications is how you are going to best use the prize money if you win - perhaps you are going to employ someone or you are going to put something back into your local community working with other young people. You might have the most innovative idea or have a great commercial business plan that needs a bit of extra cash to develop it further what ever your idea good luck."

Phil Batty MD Force -7 stated: "I welcome this opportunity in encouraging the city's young people to develop their enterprising idea that we have developted in response to the views of young people in the city, I am sure that the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge will be a great success and help further identify Hull's entreprenurial talent."