Businesses and charities across Northamptonshire have put forward real-world challenges to final-year Business and Marketing students at the University of Northampton (UON) as part of its Business Challenge Project.
The initiative gives organisations access to fresh ideas, independent research and practical recommendations, while enabling students to gain valuable consultancy experience by tackling genuine business issues.
This year, 33 final-year BA Business Management and BSc Marketing students have partnered with nine organisations to address 11 live projects.
Working in consultancy teams, students will spend the academic year investigating business challenges and developing evidence-based solutions for their client organisations.
Dr Kiran Kaur, Senior Lecturer in Business Management and Module Leader, said: “By working directly with businesses and organisations, students develop the professional, analytical and consultancy skills that employers value, while our partners benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative thinking.
“The enthusiasm and engagement from both students and organisations at the launch event was fantastic to see, and we are excited to watch these projects develop over the coming months.”
The project was launched at the University’s Business Clinic at Vulcan Works, bringing together students, academics and employer partners ahead of the consultancy work getting underway.
Participating organisations say the scheme offers a unique opportunity to benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative thinking.
Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity has asked students to identify innovative ways to reach specific target audiences, particularly through marketing, communication and social media channels.
Autism charity EnFold has asked students to review their policies to make them more accessible and easier to understand for neurodivergent staff, volunteers and service users.
Wicksteed Park has a long history of supporting educational opportunities in the county and has returned for the second year to take part in the Business Challenge.
Wicksteed’s Director of Finance and Governance Kelly Richardson, said: “The students have current knowledge on the latest ideas for business growth and an inherent understanding due to their age of how social media influences their own choices and therefore what an organisation like ours should do to maximise its own marketing opportunities through these channels.”
Organisations interested in partnering with future cohorts of students through the Business Challenge Project can find out more via the UON Business Clinic.