Students have put a vital fundraiser a step closer to reality after planning it as part of a tricky annual business challenge.
Six teams from the University of Plymouth battled it out in the final of the University’s annual FLUX competition, with local charity St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth setting the real-life scenario of planning a Kite Flying Festival.
From budgeting to location, six teams of six students discussed, planned and presented potential ways to run the event, which the charity hopes to launch in summer 2018.
And after deliberations from St Luke’s and experts from a range of local employers, Magnum Opus – a team of law students from the Faculty of Business – were named the competition winners and University FLUX champions for 2017.
FLUX is a fast-paced business challenge, where an employer sets a real business challenge for six-strong teams of commercial students to resolve. This year’s final saw six teams – three from the Faculty of Science and Engineering and three from the Faculty of Business – give it their all for the title.
Magnum Opus, who finished second in the Faculty of Business round of FLUX but stepped up for the title, was made up of Ella Thorpe, Sam Castlehouse, Thomas Faulkner, Adam Price, Vicky Broom and Jacob Cunningham.
Team captain Ella, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have won the overall FLUX title. You never know what you’re going to be faced with, and there was so much to think about for the Kite Flying Festival. As the charity raises vital funds from events like this, it’s even more important to get it right, and we’re really pleased that we rose to the challenge.”
Shirley Walker, Head of Careers & Employability at the University of Plymouth, said:
“FLUX is now in its ninth year and it’s a fantastic opportunity for students to put their business skills into practice. Students had to focus on finance, marketing, strategy and HR to resolve the business challenge facing St Luke’s Hospice and it really did put their skills to the test. Regardless of their degree, employers look for commercial awareness in any employee, so we’re delighted that the students have come up with great solutions to support such a vital and well-loved local charity to make the festival a reality.”
Senior Events Fundraiser at St Luke’s, Marian Kennedy said:
“As a local charity, we need to raise over £4 million every year to continue providing end of life care for over 3000 people and their families in our community. We are always looking for that next big thing in fundraising. Generating new and creative fundraising activities that engage with our supporters is an essential part of what we do. Great fundraising concepts will ensure a sustainable income and ultimately fund the delivery of the specialist care we provide.
FLUX has certainly given me hope we can put on a successful Kite Festival event and to move forward on that basis. We would love for the students to be involved in making this event a reality and I’m really impressed at the ideas they have come up with.”
