Finalists announced in national student app awards

Apps for Good, the free education programme dedicated to closing the digital skills gap, has announced 18 teams of students as finalists in the Apps for Good Awards, to be held on 18 June at the Barbican in London.

The national Apps for Good Awards celebrate the next generation of problem solvers and digital-makers, young people who are creating apps to change their world for good. The 18 finalist teams, made up of students aged 12-19, will now compete in one of six thematic categories for the chance to work with experts and see their apps come to life.

The final stage of the awards will see the 18 teams pitch their apps in front of a panel of expert judges, comprised of industry leaders and high profile figures, including, Margaret Rice-Jones, Chairman of Skyscanner; Ricky Martin, Marketing Director HRS & BBC Apprentice Winner 2012; and Jemima Kiss, The Guardian’s Head of Technology. In the run up to the event, the students will spend time in the offices of some of the UK’s leading Tech City companies, acting as ‘accelerators’ they will support the teams as they prepare to face the judges.

The winning team in each category will then spend the following six months having their app professionally produced in association with major sponsors and app development companies, before being launched to the public in February 2016.

The finalist teams are also up for the People’s Choice Award, powered by Essence, which is selected by an online vote held from 9-18 June. During this time members of the public can vote for their favourite app at: appsforgood.org/public/awards/2015/peoples-choice

Debbie Forster, co-CEO of Apps for Good explains, “We’d like to offer our congratulations to all of this year’s finalists! At Apps for Good we want to change technology education forever: to turn young tech consumers into tech creators and prepare them to tackle the 21^st century workplace. Our course teaches not only digital skills, but also arms students with essential real-world skills such as teamwork, problem solving, confidence and resilience. The innovation displayed in this year’s entries demonstrates not just the potential for young people to succeed, but their passion to use technology to change their world for good. We’re looking forward to celebrating their achievements at the Apps for Good Awards, and wish all of the finalists the best of luck!”

The winning apps will be announced at the Apps for Good Awards Ceremony taking place, from 7.30pm – 8.30pm on 18 June at the Barbican, London. This ceremony will be preceded by a Marketplace between 6.00pm -7.30pm where invited guests and members of the press will have the opportunity to meet the students and hear about their apps.

For more information on this year’s finalists please visit www.appsforgood.org/public/awards/2015/finalists