Southampton Airport is announcing its support of the 2010 search for South Hampshire’s young entrepreneurs in the ‘PUSH Ahead Challenge’. The challenge is open to every school and college in South Hampshire, and will see teams of students designing and creating innovative products and services for use in an airport. The project is the first in a series of events planned throughout 2010 to mark the centenary of flying from Southampton Airport.
The official launch of the challenge will be hosted by NATS at its Swanwick Centre on Tuesday 22nd September. Students will hear first hand from industry experts, including NATS chief executive Paul Barron, about innovation and entrepreneurship, and how Southampton Airport ensures that passengers breeze through the airport with ease.
Jan Halliday, Director of Marketing & Communications for Southampton Airport, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the PUSH Ahead Challenge this year. The theme of the challenge will be based upon the airport’s ethos, to help passengers breeze through the airport. By this we mean that we are seeking students to design products or services which makes a passengers journey easier, faster and more environmentally friendly.”
Chairman of PUSH, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “I am extremely excited about this year’s PUSH AHEAD challenge as we are teaming up with Southampton Airport to celebrate 100 years of flight in South Hampshire. Not only will this challenge help our young people develop their own entrepreneurial skills but also learn about how important flight and Southampton Airport are to our sub-region. I wish to convey my gratitude to Southampton Airport, NATS and ABP for supporting the challenge this year.”
The initiative is run by PUSH, the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire, which is a partnership of 11 local authorities from across the region. They have worked together with Solent Education Business Partnership, Portsmouth & South East Hampshire Education Business Partnership, Southampton Airport, The BAA Communities Trust, BDO Stoy Hayward, and NXP Semiconductors.
Teams will submit their projects for judging and go on to attend a Grand Final Trade Show at the new Ocean Terminal in March 2010. Students will compete in a Dragons Den style event, presenting their creations to full a judging panel.
For more information on the event, please contact Jan Halliday, Director of Marketing & Communications or Debbie Chalk, Media & Communications Executive at Southampton Airport (Telephone: 023 8062 7141 or email debbie_chalk@baa.com)
For more information on PUSH, please contact Sue Mills, Communications
(Telephone: 01329 824518 - Email: smills@fareham.gov.uk)
Photo & Interview Opportunity: 11.15am – 1.00pm – Tuesday 22nd September
Launch of ‘PUSH AHEAD!’ challenge 2009/10 at NATS Swanwick
Media wishing to attend must give their names in advance and should contact Debbie Chalk, Media & Communications Executive for Southampton Airport on 023 8062 7141 by 12 noon on Monday 21st September. Passport identification will be required to enter the NATS site. Lunch will be provided.
PUSH is made up of eleven local authorities in the South Hampshire area. These are: East Hants District Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Havant Borough Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, Test valley Borough Council and Winchester City Council. More information about the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire is available at www.push.gov.uk
Centenary of Flight in South Hampshire
Full details of the planned events to mark the centenary of flight in South Hampshire are available at www.centenary-of-flight.co.uk