Teams from Bristol schools storm into finals of student contest

THE finalists of the 2012 Bristol Young Student of the Year awards have been announced.

Nearly three-quarters of Bristol's secondary schools signed up to take part in the awards, a competition that pairs students with businesses to create employment opportunities across the city.

Now 13 teams have made it through to compete in the third and final stage of the competition.

In its second year, the competition aims to bridge the gap between employers and young people and is open to 16 to 19 year olds.

It is free to enter for all state schools, colleges and academies in the Bristol region. This year, more than 100 students from 16 participating schools entered – almost double the number that took part in last year's inaugural competition.

Run over six months, the competition has three stages and gives students with opportunity to win a life-changing £15,000 scholarship alongside a number of other prizes including internships, work placements and jobs.

The theme for this year's competition is Bristol Young Futures, which involves pairing students with clients from key industry sectors in Bristol.

Organisers hope it will help address the rising levels of unemployment within this age group in the local area.

Clifton-based national recruitment company Resource Solutions Group (RSG) is the competition's founding and main sponsor.

RSG chief executive Mike Beesley said: "We have been inspired by the high level of business and creative acumen that has been on display throughout the first stages of the competition and are really excited to see what these final 13 teams are set to produce.

"In a competition such as this, where students can immerse themselves in the business world yet retain the necessary support and guidance from their schools, we can effectively increase commercial awareness in young people that will be of benefit both to their future and that of the UK economy."

The winner of last year's Bristol Young Student award Harrison Trapnell, 17, is employed part-time by RSG as administrator on this year's competition.

Harrison said: "It was fantastic to be part of the first ever competition, and to win the overall award and BPP scholarship was such an honour. I learnt a great deal from the process."

Helen Stock from St Brendan's Sixth Form College, which has three teams through to the final, said: "This is already a great result for the college and we are very happy to see our students applying themselves so efficiently to the tasks and challenges in hand."

The teams in the final stage of the competition are:

Teams Artemis and APS from Ashton Park Sixth Form

Certified, from Castle School Sixth Form

Building Bridges from Downend Post 16

Inspire from Marlwood School

Patchway Power 4 from Patchway Community College

SBL from EXCEL

SGS Success from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Victorious from St Brendan's Sixth Form College

Infinity from St Brendan's Sixth Form College

Aspire – St Brendan's Sixth Form College

Victorious – St Brendan's Sixth Form College

Team Evolve from St Katherine's Sixth Form