Team Velo has the right idea

A team of UNSW students has won the inaugural ‘Big Idea’ social enterprise competition for their business plan that employs the homeless as inner-city bike shelter attendants who will scan in and maintain commuters’ bikes during work hours.

Team Velo – comprised of Yuyang Liu, Vera-Min Stephenson and Alan Jackson – beat the top team from Swimburne University and one other UNSW team to win the national competition.

Co-ordinated by The Big Issue magazine, the pilot scheme provided university students with the opportunity to develop plans for a workable social enterprise, while receiving mentoring from industry experts such as Carol Schwartz, Founding Chair of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, and David Brooks of Social Traders.

“Our concept provides the unemployed with a springboard back into the community, while also introducing much-needed infrastructure, as there isn’t much bike storage available in the city,” says team leader Alan Jackson, an Industrial Design student.

The judging panel included The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson, Executive Chairman of Macquarie Group Simon McKeon and former Democrats Leader Natasha Stott Despoja.

Several other business and industry leaders also helped to judge the competition, including Telstra Chief Financial Officer Andrew Penn. 

“The entire process – from developing our idea to winning the competition last night – was so enriching," says Jackson.

“I feel particularly lucky that we were able to receive feedback from such knowledgeable and high-profile judges."

Team Velo members have each won an iPad, $1,000 for further study or training, as well as a professional immersion day at the NAB head office and The Big Issue magazine.

The Big Issue will now review Team Velo's concept to determine the viability of introducing it as a new social enterprise. 

Media contact: Cassie Chorn, UNSW Media Office, 02 9385 5405