Leeds students heading to London after being crowned winners of annual 'Made in Yorkshire’ retail challenge
A group of creative Year 10 students are heading to a national final in London after winning a high-stakes ‘Dragons' Den’ style pitch at the White Rose Shopping Centre.
The ‘Made in Yorkshire’ competition, a joint initiative by Trinity Leeds, White Rose, and their parent company Landsec, challenged local pupils to reimagine the future of retail.
Students from Bruntcliffe Academy, Dixons Unity Academy, and Oulton Academy were tasked with designing innovative community spaces that move beyond simple shopping to deliver a lasting social impact.
After a series of immersive workshops, the teams faced a judging panel of industry professionals to present their final concepts.
The standout proposal came from Talk Trinity, a team from Dixons Unity Academy. Their winning concept centred on creating a dedicated mental health and wellbeing hub within the shopping centre - a "unique" idea that impressed judges with its focus on community care and audience engagement.
The team will now represent Leeds in the national semi-finals, with a chance to compete in the grand final in London later this year.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Ahead Partnership as part of the ‘Landsec Futures’ social impact scheme, aims to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. Over 10,000 young people have now been empowered through the collaboration.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds and White Rose, praised the students' insights: “The future generation present new perspectives and valuable insights into retail experiences that reflect their needs. This competition gives students a space to produce an original concept and pitch it to professionals, enhancing their confidence for their future careers.”
Andy Clarke, Head of Partnerships at Ahead Partnership, added: “Nothing brings careers and skills education to life quite like stepping into real workplaces.
Together, we’re showing how employers can play a vital role in supporting young people to gain the insights and confidence to thrive.”
While the competition is now a staple of the city’s educational outreach, Made in Yorkshire, in its current form, is a relatively new evolution. It was officially launched as a unified, cross-city challenge in 2024, bringing together Trinity Leeds and White Rose Shopping Centre for the first time.
Previously, both shopping centres ran their own separate enterprise initiatives. However, under the guidance of parent company Landsec and the Ahead Partnership, the decision was made to merge these into one high-impact "Made in Yorkshire" brand.
The goal was to create a more competitive, ‘Dragons’ Den’ style environment that could better prepare students for the national stage.