Rules and Guidelines

Everything you need to know about the BiG Challenge 2021 (2020-2021) is included in the latest version of the Guidance Pack - please take the time to read through this as it contains the rules of the competition. This year we have also created a short Guidance for Leaders document giving ten key points you need to know to run the challenge.

Download Guidance for Leaders Download Guidance Pack

An online copy of the rules can also be found here. 

We have been asked to clarify the extent to which BiG Challenge teams should be helped by staff in schools, by friends and family, or by mentors such as Venture Matrix Students and business professionals.

The professional principles to be applied during the competition are very similar to those involved in supporting assessed coursework for public examinations …

1. The team must design, develop and deliver its own business
2. The supporting adults can provide advice, guidance and encouragement, short of the point where they are taking over the team’s work or interfering with the creative  learning experience
3. Unlike in the world of exams, the team may persuade its supporters to help with a range of perhaps menial tasks – but the team should always be running the business

Whilst there are additional considerations for the city’s School Enterprise Champions (SECs), who support the schools and colleges to which they are allocated, they are asked to adopt a similar position when supporting the BiG Challenge in schools and colleges.