Frequentlyasked.

Yes. Sign up first and think later — the pilot event on 21 September explains the whole format, 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. If you win as a team, the prize money is split between you (rule 01).

Either through the sign‑up form, or just turn up at the pilot event on Monday 21 September and register your team on the door. Note any allergies or dietary requirements when you sign up.

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 up to 1,200 words, 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.

Masterclass 1, then round one (the written proposal), then masterclass 2 for the ten teams who get through, then round two — the pitch, in the PAC on Friday 20 November. The schedule has every date.

Profitability is one of the three things round one is marked on, alongside creativity and feasibility. 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 precisely what the evidence criterion is for. 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.

No — it is usually evidence the problem is real. What matters is that you know they exist and can say what you do differently for a specific customer. Claiming to have no competitors is the answer that costs marks.

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, 1,000 words plus up to 20%, emailed as an attachment once only to jiescalantephilips@perse.co.uk. The deadline is still to be confirmed. 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).

1,000 words plus 20% is the allowance, so 1,200 is the ceiling. Going beyond it breaks a rule, and breaking any rule in the guide is grounds for disqualification.

Only if you appeal and the appeal is accepted. Send it once, on time, as an attachment.

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 are provided after the event.

£1,000 to the winning team or individual. A team splits it between its members accordingly. Second and third place prizes are planned but not yet confirmed.

Our sponsors — Adder Technology, Vindis Group and Parry & Parry. Their support covers the prize, the food and the refreshments. None of them has any say in the judging.