Frequentlyasked.

Yes. Sign up first and think later — everything the pilot event covered is on this site, and the first masterclass is specifically about finding an idea worth entering.

No. The Award is open to every year group and every subject combination. It rewards originality, creativity and entrepreneurial skill, not prior knowledge.

Yes. Teams are between one and three people, and entering alone is a normal way to compete. The Dr Perse Award is paid per person, so every member of a winning team receives the same £150 (rule 01).

Through the sign‑up form — the pilot event has passed, but you can still sign up. The organisers then email your team a team code, which you use to submit round one. Note any allergies or dietary requirements when you sign up. Here is how we use your details.

We use your name, school email, year group, team and any dietary needs only to run the Award. Only the organisers and supervising staff can see them, they are never shared with our sponsor, and they are deleted after the competition ends. The privacy notice has the full detail.

Yes, at every event. Pizza, doughnuts and refreshments at the pilot; sweets for anyone who asks a question; popcorn at both masterclasses; refreshments at the finals.

Note any allergies or dietary requirements when you sign up and we will sort it.

Round one is a proposal of 250 to 1,000 words (1,200 at most), so the writing itself is an evening. The thinking and the research behind it are what take the time. The masterclasses are 45 minutes each.

Profitability & Business Model is worth 15 of the 100 marks in round one. You need to show who pays, how much, and what it costs to serve them — and cite any data you use.

No. You must not copy ideas from existing companies or businesses, or plagiarise another team’s. Every idea must be solely generated by the entrants (rule 02).

Then write about it. A proposal that says “we believed X, tested it, found Y, and changed to Z” scores well — that is exactly the thinking the feasibility and market‑understanding categories reward. A proposal that quietly ignores its own contradicting data scores badly.

You may also pivot to something new entirely. There is no penalty for changing direction, only for pretending you never did.

Any evidence of a real response from outside your friend group: a waiting list, a pre‑order, a letter of intent, a pilot agreement, a paying customer, a partner who agreed to stock you — or a documented rejection that changed what you built.

Twelve honest interviews with a clear pattern outscore a thousand meaningless page views.

Yes, within strict limits. AI cannot generate or propose your core idea. It can help you refine an idea you had, do market research, or improve how you present it.

At least 75% of your material must be written by you, all AI use must be cited — which tools, what for, which parts — and you must be able to explain every part of your own work if asked. Improper use can end your entry. The full policy is rule 04.

A Word document of 250 to 1,000 words (1,200 at most), uploaded on the submission page with your team code — or just click the personal link in your team’s email. You see a green tick and a reference number straight away. The deadline is Monday 19 October. Late entries are only considered on a successful appeal.

No. All work and research must be done by a member of the team (rule 01).

On the submission page: 1 upload your Word document (it’s saved as a draft), 2 check it, 3 press Submit final entry. Only submitted entries are marked — drafts are not. You can unsubmit, replace or delete it until the deadline. One document per team.

Email info@drperseaward.co.uk for a new one. The old code stops working as soon as a new one is issued.

No — slides are optional, and you can pitch with nothing on screen. If you do use them, they go in as a PDF two days before the finals and cannot be changed after that. You may also bring a physical example of your product if it is within the set size and has been shown to the organisers first.

A panel of people with professional experience in business. They confer before deciding and their decisions are final. The line‑up is released closer to the finals.

Not as marks — the pitch is scored out of 50 on its own. Your round one ranking does decide the order teams pitch in, though: the best‑ranked team picks its slot first.

No. The judges’ decisions are final. You can appeal a late submission, and scoring queries go to jiescalantephilips@perse.co.uk.

Yes. Feedback and mark breakdowns will be provided after judging.