Company of the Year Competition Guidelines
STAGE I - COMPANY REPORT
Company Report Judging Criteria
Key Areas Assessed by the Judges
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Purpose
The Company Report provides an opportunity to demonstrate how effective the team is in presenting to a business partner, the processes, performance, results, and future potential of the company using a report format; and how successful the team is in presenting the company activity to show the learning outcomes of their participation in the Company Programme.
The Company Report is to summarise the team’s year in business. It is an important record of what they achieved. The report is a mixture of a standard annual report (presenting Company’s processes, performance, results, and future potential of the company to a business partner) with reflective writing addressing issues of personal, as well as team learning (presenting the learning outcomes of their participation in the Company Programme).
The Report is also to demonstrate the skills in creating a printed document that gets the reader excited (feel free to use colours and pictures!) about the Company and its business.
When assessing a Company Report, the Judges will also apply the criteria below to the Report or to a section of the Report:
- Are the company strategies; objectives; and each area of the report covered in adequate details?
- Does the report show a clear understanding of the elements that should be addressed?
- Are the assumptions realistic and reasonable? Does the report explain what the Student Company initially aimed at, how it turned out and how they went
on according to the experienced highs and lows in their company work (the learning process)?
- Are the risks identified and the ability to manage those risks conveyed?
- Does each section include the required content and is Clear, Exciting and Effective?
- To what extent the Student Company used the potential of their market to maximize their performance (taking into account the limitations imposed by the character of the Student Company project)?
- To what extent the Student Company demonstrated, through the company operations, the learning outcomes of the Company Programme for the team members?
- Probability of the Student Company sustaining in the market as a real business.
Key Area 1: Presentation Standard and Contents (30%)
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (MAX 10%)
The executive summary may not exceed one page and should provide the essential information related to the company performance. The executive summary is the most important part of a business document. It is the first (and sometimes the only) thing others will read and the last thing you should write. It is simply a brief summary of the document, given so that the busy people who will read your document know at a glance how much to read and what actions will probably be needed. It should tell the reader why your business is special. It is usually the first page of the body of a company report.
There are many online resources about how to write an effective executive summary – search/find/use them. (To score maximum, it must be Clear, Exciting and Effective as a stand-alone overview of the plan)
- FINANCIAL RESULTS (MAX 10%)
Presented in summary form that makes it easy to read and understand. Recommended extent is max. one page. Consistent with the overall information in the Company Report and effective in capturing financial performance; provides analysis of financials as well as the information about (a) liquidation and proposed allocation of earnings, (b) required funds and utilization of funds, (c) share-holder capital, (d) financial assumptions, and (e) comparison with the initial financial forecasts. You can choose where you want to place this section within the company report document. Just have in mind that the readers should easily find it in there.
| Profit and Loss Account | Balance Sheet | |
| A Sales | Current Assets: | |
| B Purchases | Stock | |
| C Production Wages | Debtors | |
| D Closing Stock | Cash at Bank | |
| E Cost of Sales (B + C - D) | Cash in Hand | |
| (A - E) | (A) TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | |
| Gross Profit | Less: | |
| F Salaries, commissions and bonuses | Current Liabilities: | |
| G Stationery | Bank Overdraft | |
| H Rent & Hire | Loans | |
| I Miscellaneous Expenditure | Creditors | |
| J Registration Fee | Corporation Tax Payable | |
| Total Expenses (F + G + H + I + J) | VAT Due | |
| K Gross Profit Less Total Expenses | (B) TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | |
| Operating Profit (or Loss) | (C) BALANCE (A - B) | |
| L Miscellaneous Income | Represented by: | |
| M Net Profit (or Loss) (K + L) | (D) Issued Share Capital: | |
| N Corporation Tax Payable | _______ shares at ______ € | |
| O Profit after Tax (M - N) | (E) Profit & Loss Account (Profit after Tax) | |
| P Appropriations of Profit (Q + R + S): | (F) Shareholders' Funds (D + E) | |
| Q Dividends: | ||
| R Donations: | ||
| S Other: | ||
| Balance (should be nil) (O-P) |
Income Statement/Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet can be presented in the structure as outlined below. Additional line items are allowed if needed for creating a true picture of the Company’s finances. The statements may be presented monthly, quarterly or as an annual summary (recommended) and must be verified and signed by a Company business adviser or an accountant.
- ANALYSIS OF OVERALL BUSINESS PERFORMANCE AND PROFITABILITY (max. 5%)
Should not exceed one page. Presents the profitability of the company – where the profits came from and why (gross and net margin, fixed versus variable costs). Explains the determinants of the profitability, how scalable the business is and how revenues, costs and profit would change with an expansion. You can choose where you want to place this section within the company report document. Just have in mind that the readers should easily find it in there.
- OVERALL PRESENTATION STANDARD (max 5%)
The report is expected to provide information and make the reader comfortable finding and reading it. A suggested structure is presented below. Also, see the “Key Area: Learning Outcomes Demonstrated” for what contents the judges will also look for.
a) Company Overview
Business purpose, history, genesis of concept, current status, overall strategy and objectives. To what problem are they providing a solution?
b) Products or Services
Description of products or services. Features and benefits of the products or services. Pricing strategy and current stage of development. Proprietary or not and perhaps an innovative approach.
c) Operations
Plan for production/delivery of product or services, product cost, margins, operation complexity, resources required.
d) Market and Marketing Strategy
Description of market, competitive analysis, needs identification and marketing strategy, market acceptance and market opportunities, unique capabilities.
e) Sales/Promotion
The company’s Promotion and Marketing activities, Sales strategy, Sales objectives, Training and Current sales.
f) Management Organizational structure and communication structure/activities.
The team’s ability (management understanding) to execute strategy according to the learning demonstrated by the team in accordance to experienced difficulties and positive reinforcements during the company performance year (Distinctive competence.) Personnel needs, role of any non-student executive, which students will execute plan. Use of business advisor and link-teacher.
g) Future Potential of the Company
Future potential of the company, or investment potential. Does the company present ideas about the future. Even though the company program runs for a year and then the Student Company is liquidated, the assumptions the members of the company do about the future is of vital importance. How would they go about continuing the company to make it a sustainable business? Do the owners understand how their business model works and on what skills and strengths it is built? What is the sustainable competitive advantage of the business? Next steps – are they realistic according to their business mission.
Key Area 2: Learning Outcomes Demonstrated through Business Operations (60%)
This key area focuses on the quality of the contents or, in other words, on the depth of Company Programme experience the students have been through and described in the Report. The judges will assess to what extent, according to their expertise and opinion, the Student Company demonstrated, in the report, the learning outcomes of the Company Programme.
When assessing the learning outcomes, the Judges will also look at how the company addressed the key elements of a successful business:
1. Innovation and Entrepreneurship (e.g.: In what ways did the company encourage the practice of continuously innovating new ideas i.e. suggestions, recommendations which add value to the company’s operations? Is the product itself innovative in any respect? Or the business model? Or the process of development? Or the ways the product/service was marketed? Or, if a product was bought and sold on, was added value created?).
2. Marketing (e.g.: Did the company carry out market research, understand what it told them and respond appropriately to the information gathered? How did the company respond to the customers’ reaction to their product/service? What marketing, sales and promotional techniques were employed and how effective were they in maximising sales?).
3. Selling and Customer Focus (e.g.: Did the company understand what needs of what segment of customers their product/service address? Did the company broaden its customer base outside the immediate school/family environment and sell their product/service externally? Do company members understand why their product/service was a success? Did the company use any innovative sales techniques?).
4. Product / Service development (e.g.: To what extent did, and at what stage were, customer needs assessed? Does the product/service add value to a customer need? How did the company improve their processes, reduce their costs, comply with regulatory requirements?).
5. Financial Performance (e.g.: Did the company make an acceptable profit against the background of the company’s product/service and circumstances? Do all company members understand their financial performance and concepts such as cash flow, profit and loss, balance sheet etc? Has the company paid a wage/salary to its staff or have they worked probono in delivering the reported profit?).
6. Teamwork and Communications (e.g.: How did company members keep everyone motivated and do they convey a strong sense of team spirit? Did company members understand their roles and the inter-relationships between roles? Do company members understand that effective lines of communication travel up from the ‘workforce’ as well as down from ‘management’?).
7. Objective Setting, Planning/Review and Problem Solving (e.g.: Did the company have a clear business plan with a documented mission and objectives? Were objectives regularly reviewed and updated? How did company members apply and check the effectiveness of their solutions to problems?).
8. Social, Ethical and Environmental (e.g.: Did the company take an approach to social, ethical and environmental issues and how is this documented? Did the company measure, manage and communicate any social-responsibility activity? If the company ran as a Social Enterprise how successful was it in achieving its aims?).
9. Company Administration (e.g.: How was the company structured and was the structure changed in response to difficulties encountered?
Did the company have an effective system to manage and record its activities? Did they have to tackle any legal issues relating to their activities, e.g. copyright, insurance on import/export?).
Key Area 3: Future Potential of the Company (10%)
The judges will assess what is, according to their expertise, the probability of the Student Company sustaining in the market as a real business. The judges will also take into account the potential of the team to sustain with a different product/service (for example in the cases when the potential of the actual product/service appears low).
Report Guidelines
- Language – the report can be submitted in either English or Greek.
- Maximum 8 pages of A4. The 8 pages exclude the Front and Back cover pages. Minimum font size to be used is 12.
- The Front cover page (not counted in the permitted 8 pages) should include:
- Company Name
- Year of Operation
- Name of Adviser(s) and Teacher(s)
- Company Logo (if any)
- The report must include the Company’s Accounts (i.e. Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet) in the structure presented in this document. The Accounts presented in the report should be verified and signed by the Company’s advisor or an accountant.
- The report should be submitted in PDF format.
- A review of all students’ development as individuals and as a team should be presented.
- Company membership and structure should be illustrated.
- Any special activities undertaken by the Student Company should be included.
- Companies are encouraged to include photographs of their product or service.
- If you are competing for the ‘Phoenix Award’, have a section in the Report where you get a chance to tell this story!
STAGE 2 - EXHIBITION STAND INTERVIEW
Interview at a Company Exhibition Stand Judging Criteria
Key Areas Assessed by the Judges
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Purpose
The Stand Interview provides an opportunity to demonstrate how effective the team is in utilising the trade fair setting for presenting their business and their selling techniques when offering the product/service to a potential customer.
Summary
Acting as if on a real trade fair and guiding the potential customer through the selling process to a closure; using listening skills, questions, selling points, showing product knowledge. Is the stand an integral part in the selling process or is it only a “stand alone”? Is the crew working as a team? Does the customer feel to be an important part of the process?
Key Area 1: Visual display and unique features (30%)
What visual impact the stand makes? Is the purpose of the stand clear and in line with the visual impact? Is it relevant to the company or the company's product/service? Does the stand make it possible to guess, when being looked ad from a distance, what the company does? What is the availability and quality of the promotional materials? What learning outcomes of having created (or creatively planned) the stand by themselves the team demonstrated? Are there any unique/creative features about the stand (e.g. an interesting or fun product display, creativeness in arranging the stand, an activity that really connects to the product or the company, questions or things that capture the interest, tagline for the company, etc.)? Does the team understand what their unique features are and what they are for?
Key Area 2: Sales techniques, product knowledge, team spirit (35%)
The team is expected to demonstrate how good they are in “tailoring” their activity at the stand to satisfy different needs of different customers.
Is the team active from the start? Do they have knowledge about the product and the company? Do they show interest in their customers? Are they good listeners? Are they trying to provide solutions to the needs of the customers? Do they use their stand to support the presentation? How long does it take to move to selling? Are they able to guide a customer to a decision/closure of the (selling) deal? Do the team members assist each other in their work in the stand as well as during the interview with Judges?
Key Area 3: Business Knowledge (35%)
This is a very important aspect of the competition since the judges have the opportunity to ask any questions regarding the Company as well as clear any queries they may have after having read the reports and visited the stands. Judges are likely to probe Company members on their understanding of how and why the company performed as it did and what general lessons they are able to draw from this, and how these lessons might be applied in a new business context.
When assessing the learning outcomes, the Judges may again look at some or all key elements of a successful business:
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship (e.g.: In what ways did the company encourage the practice of continuously innovating new ideas i.e. suggestions, recommendations which add value to the company’s operations? Is the product itself innovative in any respect? Or the business model? Or the process of development? Or the ways the product/service was marketed? Or, if a product was bought and sold on, was added value created?).
- Marketing (e.g.: Did the company carry out market research, understand what it told them and respond appropriately to the information gathered? How did the company respond to the customers’ reaction to their product/service? What marketing, sales and promotional techniques were employed and how effective were they in maximising sales?).
- Selling and Customer Focus (e.g.: Did the company understand what needs of what segment of customers their product/service address? Did the company broaden its customer base outside the immediate school/family environment and sell their product/service externally?
Do company members understand why their product/service was a success? Did the company use any innovative sales techniques?).
- Product / Service development (e.g.: To what extent did, and at what stage were, customer needs assessed? Does the product/service add value to a customer need? How did the company improve their processes, reduce their costs, and comply with regulatory requirements?).
- Financial Performance (e.g.: Did the company make an acceptable profit against the background of the company’s product/service and circumstances? Do all company members understand their financial performance and concepts such as cash flow, profit and loss, balance sheet etc.? Has the company paid a wage/salary to its staff or have they worked pro-bono in delivering the reported profit?).
- Teamwork and Communications (e.g.: How did company members keep everyone motivated and do they convey a strong sense of team spirit? Did company members understand their roles and the inter-relationships between roles? Do company members understand that effective lines of communication travel up from the ‘workforce’ as well as down from ‘management’?).
- Objective Setting, Planning/Review and Problem Solving (e.g.: Did the company have a clear business plan with a documented mission and objectives? Were objectives regularly reviewed and updated? How did company members apply and check the effectiveness of their solutions to problems?).
- Social, Ethical and Environmental (e.g.: Did the company take an approach to social, ethical and environmental issues and how is this documented? Did the company measure, manage and communicate any social-responsibility activity? If the company ran as a Social Enterprise how successful was it in achieving its aims?).
- Company Administration (e.g.: How was the company structured and was the structure changed in response to difficulties encountered? Did the company have an effective system to manage and record its activities? Did they have to tackle any legal issues relating to their activities, e.g. copyright, insurance on import/export?).
Stand Display
The stand must display: (1) Name of the Company; (2) Product and/or demonstration of Service; and (3) Highlights of sales and financial performance of the company (one page max financial report) (4) File/documentation of the Company. The team should consist only of the achievers who represent the Company in all other ”onsite” stages of the competition.
Important
The Judges will also look for evidence of innovation and the successful exploitation of new ideas in all aspects of the running of the Company. They will also look for an understanding that continuous improvement through innovation is essential to the success of a business.
Additional Guidance
This stage is personal encounter that the team will have with the members of the judging panel - the best chance to interact with them and strengthen the message/impression you have made at the previous stages (if applicable). Keep that in mind when preparing for this stage of the competition.
- The period of time allocated for the “exhibition” should not exceed a reasonable level (3 hours are recommended).
- One Adviser or Link Teacher is allowed to be at the stand during the interviews with the judges. Although the Judges may also ask him/her a question, he/she is expected to stay passive during the interview with the students.
- The interview will take max. 10 minutes (the actual time of an interview can be further limited by the judges).
- The judges may also use the opportunity to observe teams in action when presenting to the public/visitors.
STAGE 3 - STAGE PRESENTATION
Stage Presentation Judging Criteria
Key Areas Assessed by the Judges
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Purpose
The Stage Presentation provides an opportunity to demonstrate, by making a presentation in front of the public, how effective the team is in getting a potential business partner (e.g. an investor, a distributor, etc.) excited about the business.
Judging
The presentation should summarise the key experiences and achievements of the company. It should bring life to the highs and lows of the company year; what they have learnt from mistakes as well as what they achieved; and demonstrate the learning outcomes of the Company Programme. This is not a product presentation. It is a business presentation for investors or business partners in front of the public audience and is to attract interest in collaborating with Student Company. This is your chance to tell your story!
- Each team has a four (4) minutes’ long time slot to make their stage presentation.
- The style should be business-like but may include the use of some humour.
- The presentation team should consist of no more than 4 students on stage.
- Presentation can include videos (commercials, etc.) but these must be performed in the allocated 4-minute slot.
- Entrée music of max 20sec can be played as the students come to stage (this must be sent to us together with the presentations!)
Penalties: -20% 6 seconds or more over due
Key Area 1: Structure and relevance of the presentation
The presentation should summarise the key experiences and achievements of the company. It should bring life to the highs and lows of the company year. Are they telling their unique company story or are they merely presenting their product or service?
The structure of the business presentation may include:
- Introduction
- Product/Service
- Target Customers
- Focus on priority areas of their business experience
- Highs and Lows
- Learning and continuous improvements in the business, and innovative and successful exploitations of new ideas in these aspects of running the company
- Financials
- Future
- Closure
Are the presented areas relevant to the business performance? Does the presentation target at business partners as opposed to targeting individual customers or using a format of a commercial? Does the presentation show continuous improvements in their business operations in reference to mistakes and successes they have made? Have they transformed the successes and failures into innovative ideas that were implemented in the Student Company and resulted in new learning?
Key Area 2: Delivery technique and visual aids, originality
Does the team use the tools to maintain the contact with the audience such as the use of humour, speed and movements in the presentation? Is there a successful contact with the audience? Is the team spirit visible in their stage performance, which would include interaction between the team members, supporting each other? Is it a “team presentation” rather than a presentation made by individuals?
The visuals, such as pictures, symbols, models, keywords, support the oral presentation in a creative way and are not just a repetition of what they are talking about nor reading from the slides. The financials are easy to understand while creatively presented.
Important Note:
While presenting the company in a professional style or in a style that corresponds to the image of the company, the presentation is expected to be original. The originality factor may take different shapes such as movements on stage that capture the audience, visuals that are original or surprising, an innovative structure of the presentation, humour, etc... Is the humour well received by the audience?
Key area 3: Value added to previous stages
Was the team able to build on the message they conveyed in previous stages and to make it stronger as they proceeded through the competition?
Additional Guidance
- It is preferable that the presentations are made in English (greetings and similar expressions in another language are acceptable). Greek presentations will also be accepted.
- Presentations will normally take place before a large audience in an auditorium. There will be a rehearsal prior to the presentation at a time decided by the host organisation. Time for rehearsal of the presentation for all the participating companies is allocated at the venue the presentations will later be held in front of the judges.
- Each team has a four (4) minutes’ long time slot to make their stage presentation.
- The style should be business-like but may include the use of some humour.
- The presentation team may not at any time exceed five students.
- The presentation should summarise the key experiences and achievements of the Company. The judges know you from your company report only. You have a chance to make a good first impression. Try to bring to life the highs and lows of your year for the audience and show what you have learnt from your mistakes – it is as important as your achievements
Additional Practical Information
All students attending the event must be supervised by a teacher/staff member/advisor.
Responsibility/ Security
JA Cyprus enforces "Zero Tolerance" with regards to drugs and/or alcohol abuse. The official accompanying adults are responsible for ensuring that the students abide by this regulation. In the event of unacceptable behaviour, the offending students (or adults) will be disqualified and sent home immediately.
Emergency Numbers
In the event of an emergency, call 199 for police and 112 for all other emergency services.
Dress code
During the event, you will have your presentation on stage and your panel questions. You should wear either business attire or your company’s clothing.
GOOD LUCK!!!
