Youth Board

The challenge

Since their appointment in September 2011 the Youth Board met on several occasions to integrate themselves into B&Q, learn about the Foundation’s work into the circular economy and understand how B&Q might re-think its business model.

The challenge for the Youth Board was set back in October for them to think about how rising material and energy prices, coupled with an increased cost of waste disposal, is seeing retail evolve and how redesigning B&Q's future could best keep its business thriving.

The challenge was deliberately left open-ended to enable the team to debate what they thought it meant. We wanted them to tease out exactly what aspect they wanted to concentrate on, given the limited time they have to complete the challenge and being mindful of the fact that the majority of those on the Youth Board are in critical exam years in full-time education.

After much dialogue and debate the team narrowed down their challenge to concentrate on the eradication of waste in the production and usage of a product. At a further meeting in December and following a great deal of research and dialogue, the team agreed their hypothesis - to prove or disprove if B&Q could implement a take-back model.

The Youth Board presented their findings to Dame Ellen MacArthur and the B&Q Board on 31st July. For reasons of commercial confidence it is not possible to share their findings but the Youth Board’s two hour presentation did not disappoint and was both professional and insightful.

To see a film clip from the day click here