Keele Business School is celebrating the first anniversary of a local outreach programme launched to boost entrepreneurial and academic aspirations among school and college students.

The "ICAN" competition is designed to encourage learners from areas where there are significantly lower numbers of students progressing to university to consider applying, all while helping them discover their entrepreneurial ambitions through a "Dragons' Den" style competition.

In the last year 300 students from schools and colleges across the region have participated and 110 of them took part in the final competition. The business school has seen a 17% increase in applications from the targeted schools and colleges following their participation in the programme. 

Dr Scott Bambrick, director of Keele Business School, said: "A fundamental part of the School's mission is to inspire future leaders - this initiative aims to raise educational aspirations in the region by inspiring students in schools and colleges to realise their potential and that they can make it to university and go on to have a successful career. 

"We were hugely impressed with the standard of all the presentations and the wonderful business ideas put forward by these fantastic students. A massive thank you to all the wonderful students and staff who attended the day."

The competition saw groups of Year 12 students collaborating with classmates to come up with a business proposal presentation around one of six potential themes, including concepts such as reducing inequality and poverty across the region, or designing a new sustainability initiative for the West Midlands. 

They then presented these ideas to an expert panel of "Dragons" from Keele Business School with prizes for the top performing teams, who were then also invited to present their ideas in a Staffordshire-wide competition held at the university. 

Dr Tolu Olarewaju, lecturer in management and the coordinator of the ICAN programme, said: "We welcome all students who are curious about studying business-related disciplines at university and encourage schools and colleges to get involved.

"It's been inspiring to see students grow in confidence and ambition. This is just the beginning of a movement to show young people that they belong in higher education and can shape the future." 

Keele University is a sponsor of Stoke Nub News.