Space competition for young innovators

The UK Space Agency has launched its second annual SatelLife competition looking for young people to submit proposals that utilise data collected from space to benefit people’s health, the economy or the environment. The competition is open to those aged 11 to 22 and split into three age categories, with a £7,500 prize available for best individual and best team, as well as seven further £5,000 prizes across the age groups.

One of the winners of last year’s inaugural competition was Isla Richards, a 16-year old from Aylesbury who impressed the judges with her idea to help increase the survival rate of heart attack victims by using GPS trackers in fitness devices. Isla’s idea centred on tapping into heart monitors and health and activity trackers worn by individuals to identify when someone is in a state of peri-arrest, the stage before a cardiac arrest.

Isla’s mum learned about the competition from the Buckinghamshire Business First newsletter, and Isla took it from there. Read Isla’s full story here >

Read more about how to enter the UK Space Agency’s SatelLife competition >

Support and funding with Innovate UK

Innovate UK and the Prince's Trust have launched a new programme which will provide support and funding to help young people develop innovative business ideas that solve everyday problems, effect change in their community or tackle environmental issues.

The programme – ‘Ideas mean business’ – is open to 18-30 year olds, and will be open to applications in February 2018. An award package will be presented in March 2018 and will include:

• One-to-one coaching and mentoring from an Innovation Champion
• A pot of funding to support specific requirements, e.g. travel to meet customers/partners, attending relevant training courses, equipment, hiring office space and IT support
• An allowance to cover living costs

For further information on ‘Ideas mean business’, go to: www.gov.uk/government/news/business-barriers-to-young-adults-from-disadvantaged-backgrounds

Enterprise Nation StartUp 2018 event

A huge start-up show takes place in London this Saturday 13th January with Enterprise Nation. StartUp 2018 offers a packed day with more than 100 expert speakers, a Youth Enterprise Zone, advice on SEO, marketing, digital, PR, growing a business online, IP, raising funds, and more.

Tickets can still be snapped up for the day, so head on over to the StartUp 2018 event page to find out more and book your place.