Student project helps business to flourish and grow

AN AIR conditioning company is changing the way it runs its business, thanks to a student project.
From left, Mark Smith from the Car Finance Company, Edward Adams, Max Graham and Abigail Quek from Polar Enterprises and Dr Xiaoti Hu, a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth Business School Picture: Helen YatesFrom left, Mark Smith from the Car Finance Company, Edward Adams, Max Graham and Abigail Quek from Polar Enterprises and Dr Xiaoti Hu, a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth Business School Picture: Helen Yates
From left, Mark Smith from the Car Finance Company, Edward Adams, Max Graham and Abigail Quek from Polar Enterprises and Dr Xiaoti Hu, a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth Business School Picture: Helen Yates

A team of business students from the University of Portsmouth undertook a consultancy project for Business Edge, a Waterlooville company that offers air conditioning and refrigeration system technical and training services.

The students examined different facets of the organisation’s business from its website and profitability of services and products to its customer relationship management, including use of social media. They developed a sustainable growth strategy for the company, which the organisation is already starting to implement.

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Managing director Mike Creamer was so pleased with the results, he nominated the student team, Polar Enterprise, for an annual award run by the University of Portsmouth Business School and the team won first prize for having the biggest impact on their client.

Mike said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that the Polar Enterprise Team has won first prize, especially as this was a highly competitive event with numerous teams and talented people working hard. I wish the team every success in the future, including all the students who participated in this highly constructive and valuable process.’

The students were competing as part of a Business Enterprise unit on their course, which encourages them to apply their knowledge to real business problems.

During the past six months, more than 280 students have been carrying out consultancy projects for a range of organisations across south east Hampshire, spanning different industries and including public and private sector, charities and social enterprise clients.

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Unit co-ordinator Peter Wainwright said: ‘The students have tackled a huge variety of challenges, bringing their academic skills to bear on real situations.

‘Projects included strategy development, marketing reviews, and developing major fundraising initiatives for local charities.

‘We even had a team developing ‘Brexit scenarios’ for Southsea-based firm Alison Gardiner Designs, which has an international client base.’

First prize, worth £500, was awarded by Mark Smith, executive chair and founder of The Car Finance Company.

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The second prize of £250 went to Team Array for their project boosting the social media marketing and client enquiries for the International Boatbuilding Technical College, in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.

The Polar Enterprise Team comprised Edward Adams, Daniel Kukulis, Zhiqiang Meng, Abigail Quek, Max Graham and Selina Gagieva.