Representing Derby County, pupils from the Pingle School in Swadlincote have won this year’s Premier League Enterprise Challenge.
The South-Derbyshire based group beat off competition from other schools, including representatives from Premier League sides Liverpool, Manchester City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in a Dragon’s Den style competition.
The challenge uses the backdrop of professional football clubs' business models to deliver enterprise education to inspire young people and increase their aspirations and skills.
This year, the Premier League Enterprise Challenge, set by Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore, asked groups to come up with business ideas aimed at engaging international fans, particularly in the US, and saw the six finalists head to EY’s London offices for the Final.
Judges Theo Paphitis (Comic and Sport Relief Ambassador), Graeme Le Saux (Football Analyst and former Premier League and England defender) and Premier League Executive Office Director Peta Bistany all believed that the Pingle School’s idea to link Derby County with the LA Rams and to create a Ram Exchange, was the strongest from the six finalists.
The Premier League Enterprise Challenge, which is run in partnership with Sport Relief, has engaged more than 11,000, thirteen-to-fifteen-year-olds in educational sessions run by Premier League and English Football League clubs since it began in 2009. 100 schools and 600 young people have taken part in this year’s challenge.
Theo Paphitis, who was judging the Challenge for the third year in a row, stated after the event:
“Pingle School, what can I say about them. They ticked so many of my boxes. They gave a great presentation, as did quite a few of the others, but they came up with something that’s original.
They came out with a way of engaging with the social and digital world out there, they came up with original ideas and something that the club wasn’t doing already.
“They were bringing a new strand to everything and identified their market, and for me, they ticked so many of those boxes for having a chance to be successful.”
Club Finalists and School representatives:
Derby County FC - Derby County Community Trust -
Pingle School -
Team Ram ExchangeLiverpool FC - Liverpool FC Foundation -
Woodchurch High SchoolManchester City FC - City in the Community -
Parrs Wood High School Sunderland AFC - Foundation of Light -
Shotton Hall AcademyTottenham Hotspur FC - Tottenham Hotspur Foundation -
Enfield Grammar SchoolWest Ham United FC - West Ham United Community Sports Trust -
Wapping High SchoolTweets by @ dcfcofficial
