Students rise to the Unipreneur Challenge

Entrepreneurial students at the University of Wolverhampton have been pitching ideas for how local companies can boost their businesses as part of an innovative challenge.

Students were tasked with working on a short project with a West Midlands business as part of the Unipreneur Challenge. The programme aims to promote and develop entrepreneurial skills for young people and nurture relationships with businesses in the region.

The nine students from the School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications (LSSC) presented their ideas and findings to a panel of experts at the University.

Both the students and a representative from each of the business organisations were asked to feedback about how their projects went and the creative impact the students have had on the organisation.

The panel selected winners in the categories of best value idea, best team performance and the student showing the most entrepreneurial growth.

The businesses involved included a legal firm, online marketing company and a recruitment specialist.

Tony Shannon Little, Director of External Relations, Region and EU in LSSC, said: “The Unipreneur Challenge is a unique programme that the School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications is offering to develop entrepreneurial skills. The purpose of the project is to make a creative impact and add value to the organisation.

“The students were encouraged to describe and reflect upon their entrepreneurial journeys in their presentations. They have developed an awareness of themselves and their impact and created dynamic presentations to outline their ideas.”

Gary Lennon, founder of the Unipreneur Challenge and a Start Up Britain local champion said: "Challenges are great ways to test people and ideas and help students truly learn about themselves and build aspirations that will have long reaching impact into their future careers."

The panel event was opened by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, and was also attended by fellow students, business people, entrepreneurs and mentors.

The businesses involved were: legal firm Quality Solicitors Talbots in Wolverhampton; business advisers/accountants E R Grove and Co, Halesowen; commercial insurers Jobson-James, Birmingham; online marketing firm AIM Internet, Birmingham; insolvency and mediation firm Wright for Business, Stourbridge and recruitment specialists Anderson Scott Solutions in Tipton.

This is the second time the University has successfully run Unipreneur Challenge.

The award winners were:

Most Entrepreneurial Growth (sponsored by Anderson Scott Solutions and Jobson-James)

Winner = Shanaz Ahmad

Prizes Career Coaching Service thanks to Anderson Scott Solutions (James Aust and Anjna Mahey) £150 thanks to Jobson-James (Richard Waltier)

Most Entrepreneurial Growth (sponsored by Wist)

Runners Up = Ege Balcon, Kirenjit Bhandal, Stephanie Danquah

Prizes Entrepreneur Scan each to donate to a person who would benefit thanks to Wist (Gary Lennon)

Best Team Performance (sponsored by Aim Internet & Wist)

Winner = Joyti Kalsi, of team Triumph

Prizes Entrepreneurial Review thanks to Wist (Gary Lennon) £150 thanks to AIM Internet (Sarah Whitticase / Mike Raybone)

Best Value Idea (sponsored by Wright for Business & ER Grove)

Winners = Wan Puteri Mazlan & Ege Balcon of team Sign of Newborn

Prize £150 thanks to E R Grove (Steve Lomas and Jon Stafford) and Wright for Business (Kenneth Wright)

ENDS

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736