Secondary school students from across Northern Ireland are being given the chance to showcase their entrepreneurial skills at the highly anticipated NI Schools Business Challenge.

Registration is now officially open for the popular annual event, scheduled for Tuesday 17th February 2026. The challenge is proudly led by Queen’s Business School, Henderson Group and BDO Northern Ireland, supported by CCEA.

Over 100 AS and A-Level students will secure a place at the event in the striking Riddel Hall in Belfast, home of Queen’s Business School. There, they will be tasked with solving a demanding real-life business brief set by leading retail and wholesale business, Henderson Group. Through sheer innovation and focused teamwork, groups will set about transforming their solution into a viable, actionable plan, before pitching to a panel of expert judges.

One winning team will secure £500 for their school and a VIP ice hockey experience to watch Belfast Giants, courtesy of Henderson Group.

Laura Jackson, Partner and Head of Audit at BDO NI, said: “We are thrilled to see this special event return for its ninth year. The NI Schools Business Challenge offers young entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to learn from industry professionals and to put the lessons they learn in Business Studies directly into practice.

“Each year, we witness a level of ambition, creativity, and tenacity that is truly inspiring and a reflection of the brilliant young minds we have here in Northern Ireland. We are passionate about nurturing young talent in our sector through internships, trainee programmes and special initiatives like this with our partners in commerce and education. We would encourage as many schools as possible to apply to join us next February for what will no doubt be a fun-filled, fiercely competitive and, importantly, hugely enjoyable day!”

Claire Scott McAteer, Senior Lecturer of Practice (Accounting) at Queen’s Business School, comments: “It will be wonderful to have A-Level students from all over Northern Ireland back on the Queen’s Business School campus. This year’s case study will bring their learning to life by requiring them to put themselves in the shoes of the trusted business leadership of the Henderson Group to tackle and advise on current issues including sustainability and corporate social responsibility, recent budgetary impacts, threats including cyber concerns as well as ongoing financial and cash flow oversight. We look forward to seeing how the teams apply their knowledge and share their ideas in the friendly and supportive environment of Queen’s Business School.”

Speaking about their support of the event, Billy Moore, Group Finance Director at Henderson Group said: “Each year we are excited to bring a case study that is reflective of the current trading conditions in Northern Ireland to the table for our challengers to take on, and each year we are impressed by their innovative thinking and entrepreneurial skills.

“The past year has brought uncertainty and pressure to the local economy, however NI businesses have shown great resilience, so gaining this real-world experience will be an eye opener for the next generation of business leaders and I would encourage schools to register their business students for a valuable  experience. Henderson Group is very proud to continue to support this initiative and the students’ journey into the world of business in Northern Ireland.”

Jill Armer, Education Manager at CCEA adds: “The NI Schools Business Challenge is a fantastic initiative that we are proud to support year after year. It consistently showcases the remarkable talent, creativity, and professionalism of students studying A Level Business Studies and Professional Business Services. Each year, we anticipate exceptional presentations, and the students never fail to exceed those expectations.”

Schools seeking further information or wishing to register a team(s) on the NI Schools Business Challenge should contact Claire Scott McAteer at Queen’s Business School by email c.scottmcateer@qub.ac.uk or telephone 028 90974811.

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