With the Cambridge Independent hosting the competition, COEL teamed up with Bidwells, Allia Future Business Centre and the Cambridge Science Centre as sponsors and young people aged seven to18 were invited to show their ideas for new working environments.
Entries flooded in from across the Cambridge region and even nationally, with hundreds of entries received from more than 80 schools and from pupils being home-schooled.
A number of common themes emerged, such as ecology and sustainable design, plants and pets, collaborative space and investment in wellbeing.
And the ambition shown by young people as they imagined the future workplaces proved very impressive.
Designs were sent based on sports grounds, archeological mobile offices, marine biology stations, police stations, hospital wards, banks, the video gae Minecraft, environmental research sites, pet rescue centres, supermarkets, hair salons, gyms, fashion design studios, car showrooms, garages, and the Prime Minister’s office to mention a few.
The entries were judged by the Editor in Chief at Homes & Gardens Lucy Searle, Cambridge entrpreneur Charles Cotton, Arm's Martin Frohock, who is responsible for defining the future of the chip company's workplace and Wei Meng, director of operations at TusPark.
The judges said, "The entries have surpassed all of our expectations in delivering both artistic skill and a pragmatic thought process as to what is required for their workplace and what would be beneficial and enrich the employees’ working experience. It has been an extremely positive and uplifting experience to be exposed to the expectations and hopes of young people."
The winners will receive the following prizes:
1st prize £150 Amazon vouchers. Each first prize winner will also get to nominate a charity which will receive a £50 donation. The school/college of the first prize winner for each age category will also receive £150
2nd prize £100 Amazon vouchers
3rd prize £50 Amazon vouchers
Paul Brackley, editor at the Cambridge Independent said: "The response to this competition is fantastic to see and the care, thought and imagination that has gone into the designs are incredible. I would like to congratulate all the winners and thank the judges for their time."