A group of business-minded students from The Pingle Academy travelled to Leicester City’s King Power Stadium last week to represent Derby County Community Trust as part of the Premier League Enterprise Challenge regional finals.
Year 10 students Ethan Williams, Ben Mumford and James Warren were representing Derby County, with their fourth team member Cameron Glenn unfortunately unable to attend due to illness.
The pupils had already beaten off stiff competition from other Derby based schools to be taken through to the regional stage– a challenge set to the group by the Premier League programme, to develop a new initiative to engage younger fans and increase their attendance at games.
Beginning work on the challenge last year, The Pingle Academy students produced innovative ideas for the future, before deciding on their main idea: ‘Path 2 Pride Park’.
Path 2 Pride Park is a digital game where users would be able to manage Derby County through the season, earning rewards and prizes based on performance. This would in turn create a loyal following of younger fans from a diverse range of backgrounds. The group considered the pricing, usability and marketing of the app.
Facing stiff competition from other clubs across the region, The Pingle School students were unfortunately unsuccessful in progressing through to the national finals of the Premier League Challenge, but they were highly commended by the entire judging panel for their forward-thinking and relevant ideas.
Greg Shone from the Derby County Community Trust said: “The Enterprise Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for young students to get involved with the football industry in an entrepreneurial way. The boys had a great day meeting other students and gaining valuable skills and were an asset to Derby County, putting in a great effort throughout the day.”
The Enterprise Challenge is a project that uses the hook of football to engage teenagers in business activities. The scheme gives the opportunity for youngsters to develop their business acumen by working closely with their local football club.