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.

Due to COVID-19 and for the safety of all BASE participants, we made the decision to combine the 2020 and 2021 competitions and host our first ever virtual National Final. The competition is UK based, however national lockdowns meant that some students were not currently in the country. Thankfully, the virtual event meant that they didn't miss out and were able to dial in from all around the world!

During the National Final teams were challenged to answer seven skills based questions sponsored by various employers including; BDO, Chartered Accountants' Livery Company, Deloitte, Mazars, PwC, RSM and Saffery Champness. 

A host of fantastic prizes were awarded to the National Champions and Runners-up, as well as to the top performing teams.

• National Champions: The Henrietta Barnett School
• National Runners-up: Walthamstow Hall

• Adaptability: Stratford Girls' Grammar School
• Commercial Awareness: Newstead Wood School
• Communication: The Tiffin Girls School
• Ethical Reasoning: New Hall School
• Integrity: Lancaster Royal Grammar School
• Leadership: Greenhead College
• Planning: Harrow School Online
   

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 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 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 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

• 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.

• 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.

• National Champions: Pate’s Grammar School
• National Runners-up: Trinity Catholic High School
• Best Presentation: Plymouth College

• Best Business Recommendations: The Sixth Form College Farnborough
• Most Charismatic Performance: Matthew Collyer - Pate’s Grammar School
• Most Organised: Haydon School

• National Champions: The Chase School
• National Runners-up: Greenhead College
• Best Presentation: Wellsway School
• Best Business Recommendations: Priestley College

• Best Creative Ideas: Hatch End High School
• Most Charismatic Performance: Campion School
• Most Organised: Ballakameen High School

• National Champions: Bromsgrove School
• National Runners-up: St Olave’s School
• Best Presentation: Lady Eleanor Holles School
• Best Business Recommendations: East Norfolk Sixth Form College

• Best Creative Ideas: Devonport High School for Boys
• Most Charismatic Performance: Wales High School for Boys
• Most Organised: Balcarras School

• National Champions: Hills Road Sixth Form College
• National Runners-up: John Cabot Academy

• Best Teamwork: Hymers College

• National Champions: Devonport School for Boys

• National Runners-up: Turton High School Media Arts College; King Edward VI High School for Girls; and Solihull School, Birmingham