University of Portsmouth students prepare for the world of work by undertaking challenges set by 60 local businesses

At the University of Portsmouth, students prepare for the realities of working by undertaking real-world challenges set by 60 local businesses through the Business Consultancy Project (BCP)
University of Portsmouth students are taking on real-world challenges set by local businessesUniversity of Portsmouth students are taking on real-world challenges set by local businesses
University of Portsmouth students are taking on real-world challenges set by local businesses

The BCP, which has been running for five years, supports student learning by providing valuable opportunities to use their analysis and consultancy skills to investigate specific business challenges or opportunities on behalf of clients.

By enriching their learning with real-world projects, students learn the skills they will use in their career to make them more employable. This approach is innovative and directly supports both the student learning and the growth of the local business community through the delivery of ‘outside the box’ thinking from the next generation of business leaders.

Examples from past years include: setting up social media accounts, an analysis of competitor products, a draft business plan, and improving internal processes based on interviews with staff.

Students provide their clients with a final project presentation and written report, which are key elements of their assessed work. The findings and final reports are of great value to the businesses and effect a real change in thinking as well as business operation. Sometimes, the students’ work has been of such high quality that the client can use the final report to persuade the board to make a major strategic decision.

One BCP team worked with Landau UK, leaders in the marine service sector providing award winning installations and retro-fits of all equipment and systems to luxury yachts. The team assessed the effectiveness and costs of their current sales and marketing activity, and helped develop a sales and marketing strategy for the next five years.

‘BCP gave us resources we did not have, to look at problems we did not have time to look at. It gave us a big business opportunity for a small business environment. It brings in fresh thinking and new energy and ideas that we hadn’t even considered before, so it offered many advantages really,’ said Ben Metcalfe, CEO of Landau.

To find out more about BCP, or to talk to us, please call 023 9284 4488 or email [email protected]Tax Return Tuesdays

Our Accountancy and Financial Management students have teamed up with HIVE Portsmouth (a collective of organisations dedicated to building stronger, more connected communities) to create a series of events over the next three months called Tax Return Tuesdays.

Run on most Tuesdays at the Central Library in Portsmouth, Tax Return Tuesdays offer sole-traders, social entrepreneurs and small enterprises an opportunity to complete their self-assessment tax returns with support navigating the process, while enjoying the HIVE space, mince pies and free Wi-Fi. The students are not qualified accountants but will help to navigate the HMRC website and signpost to information on tax queries.

For more information see www.port.ac.uk/eventsDoing what you love: the aesthetics of work motivation

Professor Samantha Warren grew up in Fratton and is now a professor in organisation studies and human resource management at the University of Portsmouth.

Sam has always been interested in researching interesting and unusual aspects of management. Today, she is a leading researcher of organisational aesthetics and is currently investigating female electronic music producers' careers, while learning to produce music herself.

On Wednesday 6 November 2019 at 6pm, Sam will discuss the fusion of work and life. Visit www.port.ac.uk/events to book your place.

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