School finalists revealed for the Apps for Good Awards 2014

Apps for Good has today announced the finalists in the national Apps for Good Awards 2014, designed to inspire students and discover the country’s leading young digital entrepreneurs. The Awards will be held on 23 June 2014 at the Barbican, London.

The national Apps for Good Awards celebrate the next generation of problem solvers and digital creators: students who have created an app that tackles an everyday problem or issue they are passionate about. This year 18 finalist teams have been selected, shortlisted under one of six theme-based categories as below:

• Information – big ideas for using data and information, sponsored by Thomson Reuters
• My Planet – ideas for a greener and healthier world, sponsored by Thomson Reuters
• Connected Communities – using technology to connect people and ideas, sponsored by TalkTalk
• Productivity – running better to get the most out of work and play
• Learning – inspirational learning through technology, sponsored by Samsung
• Saving, Spending and Giving – making the most of your money, sponsored by Barclaycard

Travelling from schools right across the UK, the teams of students aged 10 to 18 will come together in London to pitch in front of a panel of judges comprised of industry leaders and high profile figures, such as digital entrepreneur Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Tech City CEO Gerard Grech and TV presenter Davina McCall. Ahead of the judging, the students will spend time in the offices of some of the UK’s leading Tech City companies, who will help the teams prepare to face the judges.

From the shortlisted schools, a public vote for the People’s Choice Award, held on the Apps for Good website (appsforgood.org) from 16-23 June, will also decide the overall favourite out of all app entries, sponsored by Tech London Advocates. This year’s Awards also recognise the coding whizzes on the Apps for Good course, with Coding Ninja prizes sponsored by Facebook and Nominet Trust for the students who have created the best working prototypes.

The winning teams will then work with development agencies to launch their apps on to the market, with the support of Apps for Good and their sponsors.

Debbie Forster, UK managing director of Apps for Good commented: “The quality and innovation of the students’  app submissions, developed during the Apps for Good course, has been fantastic. I’m delighted to see such a diversity of entries from across the UK, some from as far as Wick High School in Scotland. The finalist teams are a testament to the ability of young people to not just be consumers using technology, but to be makers creating with technology – developing apps to solve real world problems or issues that matter to them. The Apps for Good course teaches not only the fundamentals of digital literacy and coding but also skills such as problem solving, creativity and communication. Through this we are empowering young people to make the most of the challenges and opportunities of the 21^st century. We would like to wish all of the shortlisted teams good luck for the Awards!”

The winning app teams will be selected at the Apps for Good Awards event, taking place from 6-8.30pm on 23 June 2014 at the Barbican, London.