Sixth Form Bolton students at Lancaster Next-Gen Entrepreneurs Challenge
A team of students from The Sixth Form Bolton have showcased an innovative approach to sustainable urban living as part of the Lancaster Next-Gen Entrepreneurs Challenge, an initiative designed to inspire young people to develop business ideas aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Competing against other student teams, participants were tasked with creating and presenting a business plan addressing global sustainability challenges. Among them was a three-person team known as The Uprisers, whose project, EcoStop, focused on transforming urban bus stops into greener, more community-focused spaces.
The EcoStop concept proposed installing living “growing walls” at bus shelters. These walls would feature a mix of pollinating plants and edible herbs, helping to improve biodiversity while also enhancing the visual appeal of urban environments. The idea aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, which promotes sustainable cities and communities, as well as Goal 15, which focuses on protecting life on land.
In addition to environmental benefits, the team highlighted the social value of their proposal. Local residents would be encouraged to pick herbs from the installations for use at home, fostering a stronger sense of community ownership. The project also included partnerships with local businesses to sponsor the bus stops, alongside an “adopt-a-stop” initiative involving nearby schools. Through this scheme, children would take responsibility for maintaining the growing walls, gaining hands-on experience in sustainability and plant care.
Reflecting on the experience, one of the students involved said:
“The Next Gen Challenge was both inspiring and rewarding. It allowed me to challenge myself, work with others and gain skills that I’ll carry forward into my future.”
The challenge began in the autumn term, with students working closely alongside a business mentor to refine their ideas and develop a detailed proposal. Their efforts culminated in a final event held at Lancaster University, where teams presented their concepts to a panel of local business leaders.
As part of the competition, finalists also took part in a “People’s Choice” marketplace. The Uprisers created an eye-catching display to showcase their EcoStop initiative, including a model bus stop that demonstrated how the concept would work in practice.
Eco Stop Stall
Although the team did not win the overall competition, their efforts were widely praised. Jill Whitham, Head of Careers, said:
“Unfortunately, we didn’t win the overall challenge, but our students did us proud and gained so many transferable skills from this opportunity, including teamwork and collaboration, resilience, creativity, public speaking and more. It was fantastic to be able to take part in this exciting challenge and I would like to thank the team at Lancaster University, as well as our business mentor, Alan Jewitt, for making this opportunity possible.”
Organisers of the event also commended the students’ achievements. Zoe Hughes, Recruitment Coordinator at Lancaster University and lead organiser of the programme, said:
“All the competitors should be proud of the commitment, dedication, and skills they have shown by even making it to the final. The ideas were outstanding, and everyone’s presentations were amazing.”
The Lancaster Next-Gen Entrepreneurs Challenge continues to provide a platform for young people to explore innovative solutions to global issues, while developing valuable skills that will support their future education and careers.
Sixth Form Bolton students at Lancaster Next-Gen Entrepreneurs Challenge
This site uses cookies that enable us to make improvements, provide relevant content, and for analytics purposes. For more details, see our Cookie Policy. By clicking Accept, you consent to our use of cookies.