Students use their entrepreneurial skills to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust

Three groups of students have put their heads together to develop fundraising business ideas in order to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

On the 27th October, students from the London Campus pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges in a Dragons Den style set-up for the 2016 Synergy Business Challenge. Now in its Seventh year, the challenge aims to strengthen and develop student’s entrepreneurial business skills whilst raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Around seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. They need expert treatment and support from the moment they hear the word ‘cancer.’ Teenage Cancer Trust are the only charity dedicated to making this happen.

Organised by the Careers, Enterprise and Employability team, three teams took part in the challenge. Along with their business ideas, the teams presented their full business plan including the financial forecast and marketing strategy. The judging panel comprised of staff members from Coventry University London Campus and included Rob Moss Careers, Employability and Enterprise Consultant, Richard Moon Business Development Executive, David Briggs Senior Lecturer, and Carole Still Head of Alumni and External Relations, who will go on to mentor the students.

The event was open for all students at upper graduate and postgraduate level to participate in, and notably one group who called themselves ‘The A team’ didn’t know each other beforehand, but used the opportunity to work with new peers to develop a variety of business ideas. Aside from their total fundraising contribution, students are also marked on different factors such as their networking and team-building skills, which are fundamental skills required for any successful business person.

Hailey Amani, Regional Fundraiser from Teenage Cancer Trust attended the event, and in her speech thanked the students and the University for raising money for the charity.

Hailey said:

Teenage Cancer Trust are ever so grateful to students of Coventry University, London Campus for giving up their time and being really creative with some fundraising ideas as part of their Synergy Challenge. Over the past four years, over £15,000 has been raised to help support 7 young people diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK.

The final results of the challenge will be announced at the ‘Showdown’, which is due to take place on the 15th December.

We wish all our students the best of luck for taking part in this great cause.