Students pitch ideas on how to keep university graduates in the city

Students from Coventry University's Business School have been working with Coventry City Council to brainstorm ideas to encourage graduates to stay and work in the city.

Business management undergraduates took part in a three-day, Apprentice-style pitch to a panel of senior figures from local government and the business community – including Councillor Lynnette Kelly, cabinet member for business, enterprise and employment – in a bid to have their idea chosen.

The 'City of Coventry Challenge', which was organised by the University's Department of Strategy and Applied Management in conjunction with the council, tasked the students to develop and pitch a plan to ensure the city was attractive as a place for skilled graduates to launch their careers.

Judging the proceedings was a panel including Coventry City Council members Cllr Lynnette Kelly and Cllr Steven Thomas (chair of the city's Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board), Carl Bainbridge (marketing and communications manager), Paul Beesley (team leader for property development) and David Hope (external funding officer).

Students Daniel Olding, Jack Swinburn, Aaron Rajan and Daniel Huynh came up with the winning concept, which involved the creation of a business and council-backed careers fair for graduates of the local universities. The students, who each received a £100 voucher, will now have an opportunity to work with the council to implement the plan.

Coventry University's own staff - including the organizing team Xavier Pierron, Dalvinder Sanghera and Nav Chouhan, plus Jeff Clowes (deputy dean of the Business School) and Harjit Sekhon (head of external relations at the Business School) - were very impressed by the quality of the ideas presented, and are looking forward to next edition in March 2015.