Previous BASE winners

The brainchild of an ICAEW member, the BASE competition was created to provide school and college students with a taste of what it’s really like to work as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Since its launch as a UK-wide event in 2009, more than 25,000 students have tested their business skills and competed for the prestigious title of BASE National Champions.

ICAEW’s BASE competition started as a regional event organised by an ICAEW member looking to help local school and college pupils understand what a career in accountancy could offer them.

The competition was such a success that ICAEW decided to open it up to school and college pupils across the UK in 2009.

The competition has gone from strength to strength since its launch, growing quickly from six heats in 2009 to 48 in 2016.

More than 25,000 students from hundreds of schools and colleges have participated in BASE since its launch, supported by numerous ICAEW Chartered Accountants and organisations from across the business world as well as the public and voluntary sectors.

BASE 2019

BASE 2019 was a record breaking year with nearly 5,000 business-savvy students taking part from across the UK. The 48 teams who achieved the best scores were invited to the national final, where they were challenged to create a business strategy for a charity.

A host of fantastic prizes were awarded to the National Champions and Runners-up, as well as to other top performing students and schools. These prizes were sponsored by various employers including; BDO, Chartered Accountants' Livery Company, EY, Mazars, NAO, PwC and T.M.Lewin.

National Champions: Queen Elizabeth's School, Devon
National Runners-up: Burgess Hill Girls

Highly Commended: Ackworth School, Aylesbury High School, City of London Freemen's School, Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, South Wilts Grammar School for Girls and Tormead School.
Top Performers: Cleo Murphy-Hogg from King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls and Alexandra Thomson from St Mary's School, Calne.
Adaptability: Kimbolton School
Commercial Acumen: Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Communication: Royal Latin School
Integrity: Hills Road Sixth Form College
Leadership: Colyton Grammar School

BASE winners 2018, Sir Thomas Rich's School

BASE 2018

BASE 2018 was a huge success with over 4,000 students taking part from across the UK. The top 50 teams then took part in the final challenge, presenting a business strategy for a wearable tech company to a panel of judges.

A host of prizes were awarded to the National Champions as well as to top performing students and schools. These prizes were sponsored by various employers including; BDO, EY, KPMG, NAO, PwC, Smith and Williamson, Saffery Champness and RSM.

National Champions: Sir Thomas Rich’s School
National Runners-up: Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls

Top Performers: Ben Norris, Lancaster Royal Grammar School and Jenson Brittle, Newcastle-Under-Lyme School
Best Critical Analysis: Gravesend Grammar School
Most Credible Communicators: Withington Girls’ School
Most Commercially Aware: Oxford International College
Highest Integrity: City of London Freemen’s School
Most Organised: King Edward VI School
Highly Commended: Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Tormead School, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Alcester Grammar School, Fortismere School and Newcastle-Under-Lyme School

BASE 2017

BASE 2017 was another fantastic year with more schools and colleges than ever taking part in the competition.

The challenge this year was themed around the media and entertainment industry and the judging panel included ICAEW Chartered Accountants from BBC, ITV, RDF West, Sofar Sounds, Lionsgate Films and Fox International Channels.

National Champions: North London Collegiate School
National Runners-up: Maidstone Grammar School

Top performers: Allen Wesson, Maidstone Grammar School and Lucy Parfitt, Lady Eleanor Holles School
Most Considered Ethics: Carlisle College
Best Financial Analysis: Peebles High School
Most Innovative Recommendation: Duncanrig Secondary School
Highly commended: Brine Leas School, Bristol Grammar School, King Ecgbert School, Royal Latin School, St Joseph’s College and The King’s School, Chester

BASE 2016

BASE 2016 was the biggest event yet with 525 teams taking part in 48 heats and 300 students participating in the National Final.

The event was themed around charities and the judging panel included representatives from Amnesty International, Cancer Research UK, Comic Relief, NSPCC, RNIB, SportsAid and WaterAid.

National Champions: Colyton Grammar School
National Runners-up: Bristol Grammar School

Best Team Player: Ellie Wright - Sheffield High School
Best Leader: William Ford – Prior Park College
Most Considered Ethics: Tonbridge Grammar School
Best Financial Analysis: Aylesbury High School
Most Innovative Strategies: Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School
Highly commended: Bishop Wordsworth Grammar School, Cheltenham Ladies College, Colchester Royal Grammar School, John Taylor High School, Prior Park College and The King Edward VI School

BASE 2015

National Champions: Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
National Runners-up: Bristol Grammar School
Best Team Player: Esme Palmer - Hull Collegiate School
Best Leader: Udaya Sharma - Merchant Taylors' School

Most Considered Ethics: Harrogate Grammar School
Best Financial Analysis: Newcastle High School for Girls
Most Innovative Strategies: Withington Girls' School
Highly Commended: Hautlieu School, Hull Collegiate School, John Taylor High School, Plymouth College, Stratford Grammar School, Withington Girls' School.

BASE 2014

National Champions: Jersey College for Girls
National Runners-up: The Lady Eleanor Holles School
Most Charismatic: George Adams - Pate's Grammar School
Most Creative Ideas: Merchant Taylor's School

Most Considered Ethics: Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Best Quick Thinker: Northgate High School
Highly Commended: The King Edward VI School, Dixie Grammar School, St Augustine's Catholic College, Gordano School, Pate's Grammar School, Colyton Grammar School.