Carrickfergus Academy pupils help launch Danske Bank Challenge: Biodiversity with Young Enterprise NI
Pupils at Carrickfergus Academy have joined Danske Bank and Young Enterprise NI to launch a biodiversity challenge for schools.
During the Danske Bank Challenge: Biodiversity programme, students will explore green careers, develop enterprise skills, and pitch innovative environmental solutions, competing for a share of a £5,000 overall prize fund.
The initiative addresses the critical link between nature and economic resilience.
Building on the widespread success of previous years, the competition entry window has been expanded across terms two and three to provide educators and students with increased flexibility to embed the programme into the academic year.
The bank says it views climate action and biodiversity protection as "two sides of the one coin", an approach recently recognised with Platinum accreditation under the Business & Biodiversity Charter.
Working in partnership with Young Enterprise NI - which connects with over 100,000 young people annually - the competition equips students and teachers with high-quality digital learning resources to explore emerging green career pathways and understand the role business plays in nature recovery.
Delivered digitally through the YE Academy online learning platform, the Challenge: Biodiversity programme is a free, ready-to-use resource for post-primary pupils in Years 8 to 14. Developed in collaboration with teachers, the curriculum features three 40-minute interactive modules that integrate directly into subjects including Geography and Learning for Life & Work (LLW).
Throughout the programme, students will learn about Northern Ireland’s unique ecosystems and the environmental challenges facing local wildlife and habitats; examine industry impacts including on agri-food, infrastructure, manufacturing, and tourism; find out more about green careers; and collaborate in teams to design an innovative product, service, or campaign supporting biodiversity. They’ll then pitch their final ideas to an expert judging panel in entrepreneurial style.
Chris Martin, Head of Sustainability at Danske Bank commented: “We want to help young people build the skills and confidence they need for the world of work. By partnering with Young Enterprise NI, we are helping them connect classroom learning with green career opportunities and develop the creative problem-solving skills our economy will need in the years ahead.
“This challenge gives pupils a chance to explore how businesses can protect nature, put their own ideas into practice and discover careers they might not have considered.”
Carol Fitzsimons MBE, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, added: "We are marking Green Careers Week [November 2-6] by extending access to Danske Bank Challenge: Biodiversity. By extending delivery across terms two and three, teachers have greater scope to incorporate our digital YE Academy modules into their existing curriculum. Danske Bank are a key partner to showcase the importance of sustainable business to local students."
Among last year’s winning schools was Carrickfergus Academy, whose project focused on protecting and restoring the biodiversity of Belfast Lough, an important marine ecosystem near the school.
Mrs Catherine Laughlin, Carrickfergus Academy said: "Taking part in Challenge: Biodiversity gave our pupils a fantastic opportunity to look at our local environment - particularly Belfast Lough right on our doorstep - with fresh eyes. It showed them that their ideas have genuine value, gave them confidence in teamwork and pitching, and opened their minds to potential careers in the green economy."
Registration for the Danske Bank Challenge: Biodiversity is now open. For more details, educators should visit yeni.co.uk/challenge-bio-diversity on the Young Enterprise NI platform.