The success of this event has been spectacular, with the final of the 2024 Green Schools Challenge, which took place on 2nd December, a brilliant advert for the future. Ultimately, students from Buckinghamshire College Group won over the panel of judges at the final to take the overall prize of County Champions.

Who took part in the Green Schools Challenge?

The challenge, which kicked off in September 2024, enabled year 12 students from Aylesbury High School, Buckingham School, Buckinghamshire College Group, Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, Waddesdon Church of England School, and The Highcrest Academy to learn from professionals in the field of green technology and sustainable business practices.

Each group of students was paired up with a supporting business that mentored and helped the eco-conscious students create and present an idea to help their school reduce its carbon footprint, which helped them to develop and display a range of green skills, as well as employability, technical, creative and academic skills.

The teams and their supporting businesses were: 

• WoodWise (Buckinghamshire College Group) with Shellwin Real Estate (Overall Winners and County Champions)
• ThermoCast (Aylesbury High School) with Whiffaway (Winners of the Most Innovative Solution)
• BioBoost Collective (Buckingham School) with Construction Specialties (Winners of Best Branding and Social Media Presence)
• ECLO (Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School) with Biffa
• Step Saver (Waddesdon Church of England School) with FCC Environment
• Miles (The Highcrest Academy) with Zenopa

What was the winning idea?

Buckinghamshire College Group's carpentry and joinery students came up with the idea of buying a woodchipper to turn timber waste into wood shavings and wood chippings to be donated to members of the community, local farms, landowners and animal charities to be used for things like household animal bedding and garden and landscaping projects. This would not only repurpose the waste, preventing it from being incinerated, but could also save the college approximately £30,000 per year that they would otherwise be spending on skips for disposing of the wood.

Predictions show that the WoodWise project could reduce the college's carbon emissions by 700,000 kg per year. If the scheme becomes a success and there is high demand for the chippings and shavings, it could become an income source for the college in the future.

The judges were impressed by the simplicity and practicality of this solution, as well as the potential for community engagement and cost savings for the college. It was a great example of turning an institutional waste problem into a sustainable, mutually beneficial outcome.

Other winners were the ThermoCast team from Aylesbury High School who won Most Innovative Solution, and the BioBoost Collective from Buckingham School who were awarded Best Branding and Social Media Presence.

The winning teams in each of the three categories will be invited to take part in a carbon literacy course, delivered by the Net Zero Team at Buckinghamshire Business First, which is an interactive way to learn about climate change and how our actions affect the planet. The students will develop skills that are useful for implementing net zero actions across workplaces, or even for a future career in green industries. By the end of the course, not only will the students have a certification that can be showcased on their CVs, but they’ll be even more informed and empowered to act against climate change!

The future is in safe hands

Once again, the Green Schools Challenge has showcased the incredible talent and innovative spirit of the next generation. Each group of students presented ideas that were not only creative, but also practical and impactful.

Congratulations to all of the participants. A huge thank you to the Bucks Skills Hub team for leading the way on the challenge, and to all the businesses who helped mentor the teams. Thank you also to Buckinghamshire Council for their support in hosting the final challenge.

Marina Jackson, Under 19s Skills Manager for Bucks Skills Hub said: “The Green Schools Challenge not only helps encourage students to pursue green careers, but also helps them develop essential employability skills through collaborative and creative challenges. By fostering mutually beneficial relationships between schools and businesses, we hope to promote collaborative learning and lasting partnerships.”

Joseph Baum, Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, was one of the ‘Dragons’ at the event and said: “Seeing how thoroughly engaged the students were and how passionate they all were about making a positive difference to the environment and to their schools was truly inspiring. We will continue to build on this initiative to continue to strengthen our communities and improve our environment as part of our #BucksClimateChallenge.”

Award-winning recognition for Buckinghamshire Business First

The Bucks Skills Hub team at Buckinghamshire Business First was thrilled to receive the Innovation in Education Award at the 2024 National Enterprise Network Awards for their work on the Green Schools Challenge. Here's what the judges had to say:

"By collaborating with local businesses, students gain hands-on experience in critical areas like project management, marketing, and financial planning, fostering enterprise and problem-solving abilities. The program’s interactive format ensures participants not only develop credible, enterprising solutions but also receive invaluable mentorship and exposure to career pathways. The positive feedback from students and businesses underscores the program’s success in creating impactful learning experiences.

"Buckinghamshire Business First’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders and entrepreneurs exemplifies their commitment to both local economic growth and sustainability."

Want to get more involved in inspiring the next generation?

There are plenty of ways for you to connect with young people and schools in Buckinghamshire:

• Exhibit at the Bucks Skills Show and meet thousands of eager students, as well as adults hungry for a career change. Learn more here >
• Invite teachers into your workplace and help them bring your industry to life. Learn more about the Teacher Encounters scheme here >