One of the most exciting prizes at our 2022 B!G Showcase was a hands-on workshop to help develop and prototype the overall B!G Winner’s idea.
On Thursday, 13 October, four students from St Leo’s College, along with their teacher, travelled to Accenture’s The Dock — its Global Innovation Hub — for what became an unforgettable experience.
The day brought together Accenture, MSD (our 2022 Climate Change Award partner), The B!G Idea, and the winning student team. What began as a classroom idea was elevated to a whole new level with the support of leading innovators, including several of our 2022 B!G Mentors.
The winning team — Jessica Korposh, Eva Cooney, Isabella O’Byrne, and Lily Redmond — gathered at The Dock to accelerate and prototype their idea, Trash Scan.
Trash Scan tackles the issue of fast fashion and promotes a circular economy. The app links users with local recycling services and rewards sustainable behaviour such as reducing, reusing, and recycling.
The concept uses QR codes to reward recycling and provides clear recycling instructions on products, helping consumers make more sustainable choices.
Steve Labanyi from Accenture shared why the collaboration mattered so much:
“Accenture worked with The B!G Idea because it’s a superb opportunity to connect with students, inspire them, and help them understand the skills needed across industry today — and how those skills will evolve in the future.”
Throughout the day, students also learned about career pathways and saw how the skills they developed through The B!G Idea are applied in real Irish workplaces. For any young person, this kind of exposure is invaluable.
In 2022, more than 2,000 students were supported by 400 B!G Idea mentors from a wide range of industries.
Our mentors include professionals from technology, design, engineering, science, finance, architecture, law, education, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Their time, insight, and encouragement are absolutely vital to the student experience.
Looking ahead, 4,000 students are ready to begin their own B!G journey this January — and we need 800 mentors to support them.
If you or your organisation would like to get involved, visit thebigidea.ie and click Get Involved, or email hello@thebigidea.ie to find out more.
Together, we can help the next generation turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
