Students challenged to help boost Coventry’s status as a ‘social’ city

Enterprising students from Coventry University’s Business School have been coming up with ideas to make the city centre a better place to socialise with friends and family.

The second annual Inceptions Challenge initiative, which was organised by the Business School and the Association of Sustainable Night-time Economy Development (ASNED), saw Coventry students invited by a panel of experts to pitch ideas that would make the city centre not only a great place to shop, but a great place to socialise as well.

In an Apprentice-style event, students were asked to present their ideas to leaders from local government, regional business and the community, including Councillor Lynnette Kelly, cabinet member for city development, and Peter Dunkley, chair of the City Centre Business Improvement District.

Business management students Saif Rafique and Sofia Rouhi put forward the winning idea, which involved a clever blend of attractive lighting, greening, cycling infrastructure, art and street cafés that made great use of Coventry’s public spaces and heritage – the concept was praised by the panel as ‘transformational and practical’.

Mick Biggs, chief executive of ASNED, said:

“We look at towns and cities around the world and explore how they use social activity to boost footfall, growth and job creation. Coventry University’s Business School has some amazing students. They were coming up with ideas which if implemented could make Coventry one of the best places to socialise in the UK. The next step is to give students the opportunity to develop their ideas further.”

Dalvinder Sanghera from Coventry University’s Business School said:

“This challenge is fantastic. It helps students demonstrate their creative thinking and find solutions in complex situations, and it’s a terrific thing to have on your CV. We have to give students a reason to come to Coventry over other cities in the UK. When they are here, we provide them with great opportunities that impress future employers.”

The Inceptions Challenge is organised by Coventry University's Business School and is supported by Coventry City Council, the City Centre Business Improvement District and the Coventry Society.