What a standard this team from Laisterdyke Leadership Academy in Bradford set for all to follow.  After waiting for the whole academic year to claim their prize, they did it with a great cheer of delight - just what we look for from our winners! 

Led by DA industry trainer Steve Rawling, the team were consummate professionals from start to finish.  Focus never wavered and when faced with differing opinions they were dealt with maturely throughout. The result? MechFix - an app to help you solve all of your car’s problems making use of Blockchain technology to let you securely check a service history and keep a record of work you carry out as well as find recommended local mechanics.

Aside from a viable concept and integration of blockchain technology, of particular interest to the judging panel was the business plan with carefully considered costings and exploration of partnerships with big players in the market such as Kwik Fit which showed a mature and open response to the development of their business.

The 18/19 academic year saw us work with West Craven High School for the first time. . . . and what a debut it was!  In the face of competition from schools and colleges the length and breadth of the county of the famous Red Rose, the youngest group to enter - a mix of Y9 & Y10 students - emerged victorious and stormed to the first place and £2000.00 package of development support! Showing a real sense of community, the team eschewed the chance to create a for-profit business app and focussed instead on an environmental and social concern - food waste.  Guided by DA industry trainer Paul Holloway - who commented that they were “the most committed group he has led”, the team set about their project with gusto, coming up with a solid app idea aimed at connecting organisations within local communities to collectively decrease food waste.