Frequently asked questions

Having a great idea will get you into the final selection – but if you want to get any further than the last twelve candidates you’ll need a different set of skills. Here are some thoughts and tips on how to make your idea fly.

Q: What’s the sequence of events for NextGen 2011?
A: After entering the competition, you’ll be told whether you’ve made the ‘Longlist’ of 12 candidates. If you’re on it, you’ll need to be available for an Assessment day on either 4, 5 or 6 October 2011 in London.

From these Assessment Days, six ‘Shortlist’ finalists will be selected by professional Judges to take part in a Dragons Den-style judging process in Middlesex on 1 November 2011.

From that process, three finalists will emerge. They’ll be invited to the annual SMMT dinner in London on 22 November 2011, at which the overall winner will be announced.

Q: How can I get a jump on the opposition?
A: Tip number one: know the Judges. You’ll be told ahead of time who they are. They’ll be public figures working for big companies, plus Autocar’s Editor-in-chief Steve Cropley. You can be sure that the Judges will have gone to the trouble of finding out about you, so it’s only common courtesy to pay them similar respect. A couple of clicks on Google or on their company website will provide all the background information you need on a Judge.

Tip number two; put yourself in the Judge’s seat. Think about what questions you would be asking if you were a Judge – and then make sure you’re prepared with the answers.

Q: What questions am I likely to be asked during the assessment days?
A: ‘What do you know about my company?’
Have a few facts up your sleeve. Find out what products they sell and their annual turnover. Look at the locations they operate from. Understand the position they occupy in the global marketplace, both in terms of turnover and brand positioning. If they’re a multinational, find out where the head office is and try to dig up a bit of corporate history.

‘What would you like to do during your work placement if you were to win this Award?’
Check the company websites to find out their structure and identify areas you’re interested in. Any ‘work with us’ or ‘vacancies’ section will be particularly useful. If you want to really impress an individual Judge, imagine that you’re the company’s MD. Think how your research into the company might be applied to a real-life scenario or trend that you’ve identified, and explain how you might achieve your objective.

Be careful with this approach though. If your analysis of the company’s aims is flawed (or just plain wrong) you will end up going down a dead end. Know your limitations, and stay humble.

‘What do you want to do in your future career in the industry?’
Have a clear, concise answer. Don’t ramble. Check the SMMT website for a ‘big picture’ industry overview. Understand what the organisation stands for and its purpose, and familiarise yourself with the key SMMT people.

Q: What’s the format if I make the ‘Longlist’ assessment in October?
A: First off, it’s a business meeting, so come in business attire. Along with 11 others, you’ll be separately assessed for about an hour on one of the three London days (4, 5 or 6 October). During this time you’ll be asked to ‘sell’ your idea to four Judges.

How you choose to present your idea is up to you, but if you need a laptop for your presentation, remember to bring it with you along with any other backup items.

Q: Wow – I’ve made the Shortlist! What happens now?
A: Congratulations: you’re one of just six candidates to make it to the Judging Day on 1 November 2011 in Middlesex. You’ll have precisely 30 minutes to make your ‘Dragons Den’ pitch to the full Judging panel. The clock starts from when you walk into the studio. Thirty minutes later you will have set up, presented, answered questions and left. Your time slot is fixed and inflexible.

Q: I’m not sure I’ll be able to fit it all into that time…
A: You’ll have to. We’d advise you to spend no more than 10 minutes presenting the idea in order to leave sufficient time for the Judges to ask their questions and for you to answer them. The Q&A is an essential element in the process. It will test your subject knowledge, but it will also give you the opportunity to show your passion and your winning potential.

If you use PowerPoint, restrict yourself to no more than five slides. Don’t just read out what the Judges can see for themselves on the slides: use them as ‘starters’ which you can confidently complement with additional spoken detail.

In the days leading up to Judging Day, practice making your presentation. Ask people to watch you and make suggestions. And time yourself. If you’re still not comfortable when the big day comes round, bring a clock so that you can see how your timing is going.

Again, treat this as a commercial pitch, so wear appropriate clothing and make sure that any apparatus you bring is functional.

Q: What do I need to look out for?
A: If you’re making any statements about the industry, or any statements of fact to back up your presentation, make sure that they ARE facts. Check and double-check everything that you intend to present to the Judges. Ask a friend, colleague or tutor to review and test your theories and facts so that any mistakes or typographical errors can be ironed out.

Have a list of sources ready so that you can respond if you’re challenged about anything during the Q&A. Be clear and confident – but don’t bluff. It won’t work. Any attempt to fudge your way through will scupper your entire pitch.

Q: Any final piece of advice?
A: Have fun! Don’t be put off by anything you’ve read here. Even if you don’t come out with the overall win, Longlist candidates are all winners because they’ll have gained a unique insight into the motor industry, met some very senior individuals, made some top-quality contacts to kickstart their careers – and hopefully become lifelong friends with fellow contestants who have the same dream.