Over the last few weeks, several groups of students took part in the Easter Innovation Challenge with the Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team, designed to provide invaluable business experience while competing to win £500 in prizes.
The challenge
The challenge saw students, grouped into teams, act as consultants for Northrop Grumman, an aerospace and defence company, BAE Systems, a British multinational security and aerospace company, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
Students were tasked with providing creative solutions to real-life business issues faced by these companies. The teams with the best ideas winning a £500 prize.
Over the four days of the challenge, students:
- Met with their client
- Pitched their ideas and solutions
- Presented their work on the final day of the challenge
The winners
This year’s challenge crowned three winning teams. The competition was incredibly strong, and the decision was made difficult thanks to the quality on display throughout.
£500 was not the only prize on offer, with all students who took part having gained valuable work experience, developing their teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity skills alongside world-leading professionals.
Student feedback
The Innovation Challenge, open to all students on any degree programme, has previously been described as “CV gold dust” and “the best thing I’ve done at University“, and this year’s participants felt similarly.
Tsion Mulugeta, a second year Biomedical Sciences student and one of the challenge winners this year, said: “I truly believe this project has been one of the most valuable and thrilling experiences I have had so far at University, and I really believe I have developed some of my soft and interpersonal skills.”
Further opportunities
If you’re interested in taking part in similar challenges or work experience, be sure to look out for the upcoming Summer Innovation Challenge, applications for which open this Friday (5 May), or visit MyCareer to explore other opportunities.