Henley Team in the UBC Grand Finals
Last Friday, three teams from Henley Business School took part in a semi final heat of the UK Universities Business Competition. The UBC represents a different form of learning, as the teams only have their peers and prior knowledge to rely on. It is a valuable way of testing abilities and giving the student competitors the confidence that they have what it takes to thrive.
The principal task of the day was to run a business. The teams were all given the same business – The Juice Boost, a social enterprise. They then had two trading periods in which to make decisions based on things like: choosing the right size plot, how many staff to hire, how much you pay them, how much stock to order, advertising etc. After completing a decision sheet, the teams are then given a financial statement and trading report to see the modelled results of their decisions.
In addition the teams had a talk on Strengths Profiles, before undertaking a scored activity showing how well they know their collective strengths, and if they can identify areas of complimentary overlap as well as weakness. Henley’s Team 2 received special commendation for their creativity in this assignment. They also enjoyed two sessions on luxury brands, and the relationship with sustainability.
Finally, every team had one hour to create a 90 second advert for a luxury product, whether real or fictional. In particular, they had to highlight how their product was advancing sustainability in some way.
After a gruelling and demanding day, the results were shared. Of the 15 teams competing, only 4 would advance to the Grand Finals in Liverpool. In a well deserved victory, Team 2 (AA3) from Henley came 3rd, securing their place in the finals. Congratulations to Sam Hirsch, Hanna Kopec, Shlok Maheshwari, James McDowall and Wes Ridgley. Henley’s other two teams put in a strong showing against tough competition.
The activities and tasks throughout the day highlight the value and impact Henley’s applied and practical teaching has when put through tests using real-world examples and information. We look forward to cheering on Team AA3 in the Grand Finals later this month.
