Inside: Tequila! Tequila! p2 NBS Reaches Out p2 Why take a placement year p5

DECEMBER 2009 WINTER EDITION

Catch up with Captain Lee...Captain Jeff Lee studied for an MBA (Master of Business Administration, Distance Learning) at The University of Northampton whilst serving in Afghanistan. He is now preparing to leave the Army after 24 years.

“I always knew my time in the military would come to an end. I have been offered extended service but the next challenge for me is the private sector. After 24 years of service, this is all I have ever known. Now, at 40 years old, I had to make a decision; to stay in the military or to accept the next challenge. I have one year left in the Army and am currently preparing to leave. Studying for my MBA at a strong university has, I believe, given me the credibility to market myself for the next step in my career.

I started off as a Physical Training Corps Instructor in the Army and rose through the ranks, I really enjoy meeting and working with people, motivation and leadership. This is what I’m good at and are the transferable skills which I take to the civilian market. Ex-military can be seen to be one dimensional when they leave and are looking for new jobs so any skills I could add to my bow were important. This is why I undertook my study and I am now part-time working with some big blue-chip companies to deliver training and workshops.

I studied for a Certificate in Management Studies (CMS) and Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) at Stratford Business College which I really enjoyed and I wanted to go to that next stage. I contacted Peter Canavan, Senior Lecturer at Northampton Business School, who had an affiliation with Stratford, and I was accepted onto The University of Northampton’s MBA programme.

In Dec 1996, I knew I was going to either be deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq and I was offered a gap year and support by the University but I decided to undertake my study out there. You have very busy times obviously but also some very quiet times where studying would be very appropriate for me.

I was based in Gereshk, Afghanistan. One minute I could be fighting, the next back in my military base with my books. In hard times when friends were killed, I threw myself into the gym and my books. It was my way of coping.

The support I had and was offered from The University of Northampton was fantastic. However, I never missed a deadline and was determined to succeed with my end goal in sight. In November 2007, I completed my dissertation and I graduated in July 2008. It was great to see Peter and everyone who had supported me again.

Now, I am excited about what the future holds. HR interests me or any aspect of working with and managing people; I just need to find my niche and the opportunity has to be right for me. I had an excellent experience from The University of Northampton, with the support that made me realise my potential.”

Talent spotting

Engine is a creative agency experienced in generating and developing brands across a wide range of media channels. The success of Engine is reflected in the clients they work for and the creative excellence of their work.

Based in Northampton, Engine Creative has been working with students on Advertising courses at Northampton Business School for 3 years. In addition to Engine Creative’s existing award for the highest achieving graduate, this year a second award has been introduced, the ‘Engine Creative Most Promising award’, where the highest achieving students entering the second year of their degree compete to be recognised for their potential. Shortlisted students for this year’s award were: Jodie Ford, Damian Gawel and Virginia Kaczmarek. The students met with Andy Wise, Projects Director and were interviewed on a specific topic relating to their course. Andy commented: ‘The interviews were part of our process of opening up and sharing our knowledge to help inject vocational experience into the students’ education. In truth, it’s turned out that we feel we’ve gained far more than we’ve given: We’ve met some great students whose enthusiasm is infectious and has reminded us why we made our careers in the creative industry.’

The prize was awarded to Damian Gawel who received a £250 cash prise and the opportunity to undertake a work placement at Engine Creative, to gain valuable industry experience.

BA Advertising Course Leader, Wendy Langford, commented; “We place a high value on Engine’s input into our courses. Industry links help us to ensure that we are preparing our students to enter the exciting and competitive world of advertising when they graduate. It is very motivating to be able to offer students at an early stage in their degree the opportunity to be recognised for their hard work and their talent. I’m sure the candidates gave Engine a tough job in deciding the winner.”

Well done Damian.

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NBS reaches out...As part of our on-going strategic intention to fully internationalise Northampton Business School, we have recently secured a number of partnerships with prestigious institutions in France and in Brazil:

Sup De Co.s Montpellier, Troyes and Brittany for direct entry onto NBS Top-up courses. French students spend one year in the UK studying full time.

Fundacao Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP) Sao Paulo, Brazil for direct entry onto BA (Hons) Business & Management and Masters provision. NBS is the only UK school to enjoy such a relationship with this institution. The Prime Minister visited here in March 2009 shortly before a critical G20 meeting.

NBS is also delighted to announce that we have ‘mapped’ the Level 7 (postgraduate) provision of four major UK based, international,

accrediting bodies onto NBS Master’s courses to facilitate entry to our courses with advanced standing.

They are• Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) – Level 7 Diplomas onto MBA • Chartered Management Institute – Level 7 Diplomas onto MBA • EdExcel – Level 7 Diplomas onto MBA • Association of Business Executives – Level 7 Diplomas onto MBA

Furthermore NBS has approved a close working relationship and an innovative progression arrangement, with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) for direct entry onto BA (Honours) International Accounting (taught or distance learning).

Left to right: Bob Hartley, NBS Associate Dean, Allan Fraser-Rush, Managing Director, Sally Laurie,Senior Lecturer, Marketing & Entrepreneurship.

On Wednesday 28 October 2009, The University of Northampton’s Business School welcomed Allan Fraser-Rush, Managing Director of TEQUILA\London, for his Inaugural Lecture to mark his appointment as Visiting Industry Professor in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Allan Fraser-Rush is the Managing Director of TEQUILA\London, an integrated marketing agency within the TBWA\ Group network - one of the World’s most acclaimed marketing networks.

Mr Fraser-Rush delivered his lecture entitled “Are brands still believable?” to over 100 guests including members of the University’s directorate, local industry figures and students, who had the opportunity ask questions relating to

the topic and discuss their ideas with the newly appointed Professor. Mr Fraser-Rush said:

“I am completely delighted that The University of Northampton have the faith in me to make me a visiting Professor.”

The collaboration between TEQUILA\ London and The University of Northampton has been benefiting students at the University for over seven years and has made a significant contribution to the Field of Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Mr Fraser-Rush’s appointment as Visiting Industry Professor will formalise the collaborative partnership and go on to further support the enhancement of learning and teaching and joint activities within the communications and creative industries.

Sally Laurie – Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Northampton Business School said:

“The appointment of Allan recognises the contribution and value gained from the engagement of the whole TEQUILA\ organisation with staff and students across all levels. Allan and his staff provide students and staff with such a level of insight into their dynamic communication and marketing environment that is impossible to replicate in any other way.”

The following day saw the ‘Student ‘v’ Agency pitch event’ which consists of 5 teams of final year Advertising students from The University of Northampton and 5 recent graduates from TEQUILA\London.When asked about the importance of students engaging with industry whilst they are at university Mr Fraser-Rush said:

“The simple reason for me involving myself more with the academic programme at Northampton Business School is to bring to the students a little of the real world. NBS does a

great job in teaching the theoretical base of the discipline and try to bring as mush of the real world into the courses, but the reality is that it is different out in Agency land. We use our own phraseology; we have our own processes and potentially for a young graduate entering our business will be quite terrifying. Without the programme we have in place students could only imagine what life was like in an agency, what we have done is shown them. Not only how we work, but how we think, the disciplines we cover and how we work with one another. All of which will better position them to have a better chance of securing that elusive marketing role they want.”

Allan Fraser-Rush, Managing Director of TEQUILA\, challenged the teams to find ways to improve the perception of the public on the role of the Post Office as a key part of communities in the UK. The groups had two and half hours to carry out research and prepare their pitch. The student teams and ‘Team TEQUILA\’ pitched their ideas to Allan, senior marketing lecturers and Bob Hartley, Associate Dean, Northampton Business School. Naturally Team TEQUILA\ were deemed the overall winners although Allan Fraser-Rush identified the student team ‘MODCOMMS’ as the winners from the student side.

This style of project gives students the opportunity to work on a real life task in a real work environment preparing the students for life after University.

Mr Fraser-Rush went on to provide insight into expectations of professional pitches, and advised students on how to prepare for their forthcoming pitch to Pedigree, scheduled to take place in TEQUILA\ head office, London next May.

The project was designed and is delivered by staff from NBS, working in partnership with school teachers and members of HM Prison Wellingborough Education Team. It is funded by NBS resources, with many staff doing unpaid overtime to deliver the project.

The project is designed to both give beneficiaries an insight into, and enthusiasm for higher education; and to enable them to gain a bite-sized level 4 qualification. Both target populations complete an Entrepreneurial Skills Development module from our Foundation Degree in Enterprise. This module gives students the knowledge and skills they need to set up their own business. The main assessment task is the completion of a detailed business plan for a new enterprise or social enterprise.

Since the project started in 2006:• 105 learners from non-traditional backgrounds have taken part in an accredited higher education course. • 42 of our 105 non-traditional students are currently still working on their course. • Of the 63 who have completed the programme, 49 of them have passed a 20 credit, level 4 module. This is a 78% success rate.

The Times Higher Education Awards 2009

One ex-prisoner, from Northamptonshire, has applied to join NBS as a full time student on the FD in Enterprise. Many pupils have gone on to further education at this and other Universities.

In addition, and particularly pleasing for the NBS Widening Participation project team, we received the following unsolicited feedback from one prisoner in May 2009,

“since starting the course, I have

completely changed my attitude

to my future.”

Northampton Business School is the only university department in the country to deliver accredited enterprise development programmes to serving prisoners (according to the National Offender Management Service in March 2009) and one of very few offering higher education accredited leaning to schools. Furthermore, the project delivers an award that, even if our non-traditional learners do not go on to university, means they have the knowledge and skills to start a business.

Northampton Business School was shortlisted for The Times Higher Education Awards 2009 in the Widening Participation category for ‘… the most imaginative and innovative project that encourages people from non-traditional backgrounds to enter higher education’. This is primarily for our work in delivering enterprise in Northamptonshire schools and HMP Wellingborough. Over 600 entries were received from 130 HE institutions across 18 categories. Six other institutions we’ve shortlisted in this category.

In September 2009, Professor Nada Kakabadse participated in a debate for Reuters TV on whether or not blackberries are addictive, and the effect they have on the quality of people’s work. The interview was broadcast worldwide to all financial institutions. The study on ‘technology addiction amongst young people, particularly in terms of facilitating social networking’, spearheaded by Professor Nada Kakabadse and Susan Bailey, from Northampton Business School, in collaboration with Prof. Andrew Kakabadse, Cranfield School of Management, and Dr. Andrew Myers, AJM Associates, has attracted considerable media interest. The study based on a survey of over 260 students in the Midlands, examining young people between the ages of 11-18, found that technology mediated communication is having a disruptive effect on positive attitudes towards learning. Also over 50 per cent of the respondents admitted to straight plagiarism from the internet. So far more than 5 radio interviews have been held as well as 10 separate press reports (including Times Online) have written on this topic.

Reuters, Sky... the World!

Fiona Eaten, the Shop design and Marketing Manager of Save the Children UK in London, made an outstanding presentation to our Merchandising students (a Retail module) recently.

35 students were spellbound as they were briefed about the Save the Children’s 120 charity shops and their desire to receive fresh ideas to help turn around their flagging sales. The students are now applying retail theory to a report directed at Save the Children. Theory

Save the Children FundWe are very appreciative of Fiona’s visit andfor providing our students with such an intimate insight into an industry around which they are building their industry based project.

This was a good day for our Merchandising students and for the future bonds between the Business School and Save the Children. Opportunities for placements and Social Enterprise related projects are very real and highly relevant to work in the Business School.

presented each week will be integrated with empirical research along with ideas gleaned from the outstanding series on charity shops by the iconic retail consultant Mary Portas.

Helen Ure from the Centre for Work Based Learning was also on hand over lunch to form a very important networking relationship with Fiona. Helen’s work centres around ensuring that students maximise the effectiveness of their employability by engaging in placement opportunities where possible.

Considering a placement year?Northampton Business School (NBS) has a strong commitment to Work Based Learning (WBL) and each year, many students take the opportunity to integrate their work experiences into their academic learning. During the placement year students benefit from live work experience, gain valuable skills and develop competencies that will not only benefit their final year of study but give them a distinct advantage when it comes to seeking employment when they have finished their studies.

How does it work?Students who have successfully completed the first two years of their degree can gain solid business experience before embarking on the final year of their degree by choosing to take a Placement Year. Students work for one year in a full-time, salaried job (approved by the Centre for Work Based Learning).

Am I still a student during this time?Yes! During this time students undertake two WBL modules. These modules are accredited and contribute to their overall grade. The student and the employer will have the support of a Visiting Tutor who will visit twice during the placement and maintain the link between the student and The University of Northampton.

What Companies can I get a placement in?It is the student’s responsibility to find and apply for a placement year opportunity; the CWBL will guide and assist you through this process. Companies that students have completed placement years in, include:Avon, Cummins, Hotel Chocolat, Milton Keynes Council, Enterprise Rent-a-Car Cisco Systems – Dubai,

IBM, Barclaycard, Daimler Chrysler

UK Ltd, Swarovski, Microsoft, Althorp Estate, Debenhams,

Nationwide, Two Seasons and

many more.

4 5

I’d definitely recommend a placement year to anyone!!

“When I was first looking through the Northampton University Fulltime prospectus, all of those 4 years ago!! I knew I wanted to come to The University and study Business Studies, at the time I had just finished taking a year out after finishing my A-Levels and I had been working full time for the year in retail, which I had loved but realised that I could not really progress as far as I wanted to go without having further education behind me. When I read in the prospectus that BA Business Studies offers a Sandwich course with a year work placement I knew that was what I wanted to do. I found it even more appealing because I didn’t have to decide fully in my first year if I wanted to do the 4 years with a work placement or just carry on and complete the degree in 3 years.

I decided a placement year was the right thing for me because of the increasing importance employers place on work experience in addition to my academic studies and with the current economic climate I really wanted to give myself that extra edge when I finished University.

It took a long while and a lot of work to find my placement company, there is a huge amount of competition for placement positions, I sent off lots of CVs and application forms and really had to sell myself and make myself stand out; finally through a contact at my current part time employment and three interviews later I was offered a placement at Hotel Chocolat.

The placement was based in Hotel Chocolat’s head office in Royston, Hertfordshire, and initially I spent the first two weeks commuting from Northampton to Cambridge, this added on an extra 3 hours to my working day and I was totally exhausted. I wanted to give this job 100% and in order to do this I soon realised I needed to move to Cambridge. This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make, starting a new job was daunting enough in its self but leaving all my friends from university, moving to a City where I didn’t know anyone and starting a new job was terrifying. I’m not going to say it was easy but my work colleagues were really supportive and understanding and I soon made lots of new friends, felt part of the team and really started to enjoy life in Cambridge.

Initially I stared off working in the Product development department, working on new innovative chocolate recipes that could be featured on the Recipes section of Hotel Chocolat’s website. I was then given the task of presenting these recipes to my peers and if everyone agreed I would cook them and have them professionally photographed to feature on the website. I did this throughout the year and in the last 4 months of my placement my recipes from the website were created into recipe cards that are now available to pick up in all of Hotel Chocolat stores. In a business that is so heavily influenced by the changing seasons I was given the task in the summer of working on designing the back of the Hotel Chocolat kids advent calendar.

It was to include new fun and games for the kids. I had to be creative in understanding my target market of between the ages of 3-10 year olds, so this allowed me to do a bit of primary research asking friends and young family members what they would like to have on the back of there advent calendars. I then had to pitch the ideas I had created to the Portfolio Manager, which was so scary as they are your personal ideas that you think are good but that someone else could hate. Thankfully I did lots of different ideas and four of them were picked and have now made it onto the back of the advent calenders for kids. I feel really proud when this product is being sold within the store I am working within I am able to explain to customers that I created the ideas for them, however I don’t think many people believe me!!

Seeing the product I created in shops for sale at Christmas gives me a fantastic sense of achievement. Working in product development allowed me to be able to dip my fingers into all other areas of the company such as design, purchasing, supply chain etc.

The tasks I undertook during my year enabled me to develop valuable time management and organisation skills, I have built my confidence significantly and feel confident in many business situations including presentations, which is a far cry from the shy timid person I once was. I’ve got a broader understanding of working with different cultures, business practice and business terminology. I’ve also been able to implement business theories and academic learning into a practical business environment which has really added value to what we learn in lectures and seminars. It wasn’t just business skills that I developed during my placement year but a whole host of personal skills such as patience, planning and confidence. Many of the skills I developed I’ll be able to apply to my final year of study and dissertation.

Taking a placement year was one of the best things I could have done, I earned good money whilst gaining a wide variety of skills which I couldn’t have got anywhere else. I made a huge amount of friends from my work placement who I am still in contact with now and occasionally I pop back to Cambridge for a catch up with them. I am hoping that once I finish my degree at Northampton I will be moving back to Cambridge and fingers crossed, returning to Hotel Chocolat Head Office to start my graduate career!!”

Catherine Freestone

BA (Hons) Business Studies

Hotel Chocolat

The Employers Perspective

“Catherine was with Hotel Chocolat for one year and from the very beginning proved to be a very valuable asset to the team. The Buying and Merchandising team was looking for someone who could “hit the ground running”, understand the Hotel Chocolat brand and be able to take on tasks and run with them, with very little direction from the Buyers. Catherine managed to achieve all of this very effectively. Part of Catherine’s role was to work on the development of the seasonal recipes that appear on the Hotel Chocolat website.

After a lot of work and interviews I got a placement at Cisco Systems in Dubai, which meant leaving my family and friends and moving to the UAE for a year.

I worked as a Finance Analyst training to become a Finance Manager which involved liaising with Sales Managers from across the world, forecasting sales figures, managing expenses and other financial planning and analysis tasks. During my time there I gained international business exposure, developed my presentation skills, worked with people across the board from a variety of different cultures and learnt the importance of governance and collaboration within a Multi National Corporation. Being on my own in a foreign country I feel I matured personally, I now have a mature outlook and I’m really enthusiastic about completing my final year as I’ll be able to draw upon my experiences and relate them to the taught theories and my dissertation. My placement year opened up a world of opportunities for me when I finish my studies.

Vishal Shah, BA (Hons) Business StudiesCisco Systems

Whilst studying for my BA Business Studies I decided to take a placement year because I felt that a placement would benefit my current academic studies and enhance my CV, giving me a competitive edge when I finish university in terms of being able to offer a future employer more than a regular 3 year Business degree. I found a placement scheme at Enterprise Rent-a-car which involved me assisting customers with rentals or courtesy vehicles as a result of accidents. This allowed me to increase my personal confidence when interacting with both customers and senior managers within the company. I was then able to progress on to managing my own branch in the manager’s absence. My confidence, time management skills and the ability to work under pressure developed significantly during this time. I would summarise my placement year as ‘brilliant’ I have developed professionally to another level and my first hand industry experience will benefit both my final year dissertation and future working life, I’ve even been offered employment there when I finish at university!!

Neil Duffy BA (Hons) Business StudiesEnterprise Rent-a-Car

80% of employers recruited

placement students with

the primary aim of

attracting them back to

permanent jobsSource: Work experience

and recruitment survey, 2004,

University of Manchester

and UMIST Careers service

This was something that really challenged Catherine but she researched and subsequently made some amazing recipes that proved to be very popular on the website. Catherine also cooked a “banquet” with our Head Chocolatier for some members of the team which was also a huge success”!

Having a placement student working in the department has proved to work really well. We get a fresh set of eyes every year to bring new ideas and creativity! Teresa PeckBuyer, Hotel Chocolat Ltd

“During my placement year I developed a variety of new skills; I am a lot more confident when meeting people and have really improved my communication and organisational skills. Having been in a work environment the theory I’d been learning now makes total sense and I have a variety of skills that I can use for my final year and dissertation. I would describe my placement year as invaluable; I’ve paid off my student loan, gained lots of good friends and have job prospects when I finish university.”

Shelley Rowland, BA Business StudiesMilton Keynes Council

69% of placement

students were offered

graduate jobs

Source: Work experience

and recruitment survey, 2004,

University of Manchester

and UMIST

Careers service.

100%

of placement

students would

recommend a

placement year to

other students*

* From an Internal NBS Survey,

October 2009.

73%of employers have

recruited on a permanent

basis as a result of work

experience placements

Source: Work experience and

recruitment survey, 2004,

University of Manchester and

UMIST Careers service.

How do yousolve a problem...use SFIA

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Social Enterprise - delivering valueThe European Social Fund (ESF) and EMDA/Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL) have agreed to support our E3 (employment, education, enterprise) project. Northampton Business School, in partnership with Social Enterprise East Midlands and other players have agreed to deliver this £1m+ project via an autonomous social enterprise. This innovative project will recruit unemployed individuals,

respond to their support needs and arrange work experience or voluntary placements with private, public or third sector organisations with the aim of this leading to longer term secure employment. The enterprise will have potential to develop activities related to increasing participant’s employability and economic participation. It will represent a new model for the delivery of government services.

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) pronounced “SOFEA”, is a “high level UK Government backed competency framework describing the roles within IT and the skills needed to fulfil them” (BCS). Its purpose “is to provide a standardised view of the wide range of professional skills needed by people working in Information Technology” (SFIA).

One the key strengths of this framework is that as technology progresses and advances so does SFIA. Therefore as an evolving and business led skills framework it is the ideal standard to use across all organisations nationally and globally. What is the problem and why is SFIA the solution ? The problem is the mapping and building of a CONTINUAL PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT programme for current IT staff and a consistent skills profile that can be matched to a job description for present staffing needs and new staff. How can you recognise your skills gaps? How can you put together a consistent and meaningful job specification? How do you know that current graduates have the required IT skills? Use SFIA....

The IT industry is reaching a higher point of recognised professionalisation and that there are opportunities emerging for more co-operation between all the relevant parties. Keith Aldis, Chief Executive of itSMF UK & itSMF International and Chairman of the SFIA Board states that “We need to raise awareness. IT professionals need to be seen, heard and appreciated. We can do all this through properly structured training regimes that underpin the business”.

A Curriculum Solution?The University of Northampton has always been innovative in its approach to delivering courses for industry. In October 2008 we

were awarded the Innovation of the Year award by the itSMF for becoming the first in the world to offer IT Service Management at Masters level. We already give accreditation to students on the programme if they have ITIL Managers Certificate and now we have recognised and given accreditation to potential and current students of our IT Service Management Degree (ITSM) programme, if they have the V2/V3 Bridge or ITIL Expert Status. Our ITSM students are drawn from key industries both nationally and globally and include BT, BBC, European Central Bank, National Audit Office, Ministry of Defence , Prudential, Universities , Roche, Serco, Ministry of Justice, NHS, National Police Forces and Councils.

To develop the skills of undergraduate students, we have applied our industry links, our associations with professional bodies (BCS, e-Skills, SFIA and APM) and our expertise to create a new undergraduate degree - Business Computing Systems. This hybrid degree with technical and managerial content will inspire and encourage today’s young people to choose Information Sciences (ISc), as a most relevant subject for the information age and subsequently a career as an IT professional. Our purpose is to make our students industry ready with a recognised benchmark of skills to start or continue their graduate life in industry. This will be just the beginning of a long and fulfilling career in IT and just the beginning of Continual Personal Development throughout their career.

SFIA is the solution...For further information on any of the Information Sciences courses, please contact Susan Bailey, Principal Lecturer and Field Chair of Information Sciences at Northampton Business School, Email: susan.bailey@northampton.ac.uk

Susan Bailey, Education Liaison and Female membership officer for BCS (Northampton Branch), Field Chair (Information Sciences) Northampton Business School and recently awarded Fellow of BCS, together with Don Page, Chief Executive of the Marval Group and Honorand of the University, presented prizes to the Most Promising Students of Years 2 and 3 from Information Services Division degree courses. Congratulations go to:

Most Promising Student (Year 2) – Fda Business Computing – Amy Young

Most Promising Student (Year 3) – BSc (Hons) Business Computing – Laura McLeod

Amy stated:

“I feel very honoured to have received

The Northampton branch of the British Computer Society (BCS), now the

Chartered Institute of IT, rewarded three students for their hard work at

The University of Northampton’s Summer Graduation ceremonies recently.

this prize and I’m determined to do well in my next year of study. I want to progress within IT when I graduate and make big money!”

Laura added:

“I’m very proud of this and I worked very hard over my four years here. I’ve actually been offered several jobs and I am going on to be a Software Developer for Symology. My advice to students is to work hard and do as much as you can for experience; voluntary work or anything that gives you that experience of teamwork or leadership…”

BSc (Hons) Computing (Internet Technology) graduate Claire Chapman was additionally presented with the Orange Instrument Award at the same ceremony.

British Computer Societyrecognise graduate achievements

New Events Foundation Degree Students join Northampton Business SchoolIn 2008, Northampton Business School was delighted to welcome the first cohort of BA (Hons) students to our Events Management course. September 2009 saw the launch of a Foundation Degree in Events Management which is aimed at people employed in the events industry in Northamptonshire and beyond.

The foundation degree offers events professionals the chance to further understand the wider events industry and to enhance their personal and professional skills, so that they can continue to grow and progress in their careers. Successful students will have the option to ‘top-up’ to the final year single honours course and then receive their full BA (Hons) in Events Management.

Events Management students have a host of guest speakers and trips lined up over the coming months, examples include: ‘Franklin Gardens’ home of The Northampton Saints Rugby Club. Purpose: Stadium health, safety, and security plus a chance to watch the Heineken Cup fixture against Treviso. Excel London; International Conference & Exhibitions Centre. Purpose: Practical Management Tour of Excel London with attention to Health, Safety, Security, Logistics, Environmental Management. The tour will also look at what the venue is planning for 2010/2012 and beyond.

Guest Speakers on Career development and planning in the Events Industry: Barnardo’s, The Centre for Community Volunteering, Dobson White Partnership, Grass Roots, Avon Cosmetics UK (TBC), Oxford International Events & Eventia, The University of Panonia, Hungary / European Capitals of Culture, Crowd Dynamics LTD, DRP Events, Aniah: Bespoke Venue Finding Service

HRM AwardsTwo NBS students taking the CIPD Diploma received awards from the local CIPD branch recently. The award for outstanding personal achievement was presented to Nicola Robertson who works as an Assistant HR Officer for MAHLE Powertrain Ltd, an automotive engineering consultancy based in

Northampton. Sharon Henry received an award for producing the Best Management Report on the DPD programme. Sharon works with Mouchel Government Business Services in partnership with Milton Keynes Council which gives her a valuable insight into both the public and private sectors and of partnership working.

The Times Good University Guide and Times League TablesNorthampton Business School is delighted to report its improving position in the Times ranking of UK universities year on year, from 98th (out of 110) in 2007, to 77th in 2008 and to 71st in 2009 – that places NBS in the 65% percentile band and rising!

Editorial Contact and School Manager: Jennifer Catlin Tel : 01604 892921 email: jennifer.catlin@northampton.ac.uk www.northampton.ac.uk/departments/business

Capitol University of Economics and Business (CUEB) in Beijing have granted an honorary professorship to the Dean of Northampton Business School, Dr Ian Brooks to mark the on-going partnership our two institutions.

This relationship was punctuated by our recent joint leadership of a social

enterprise conference in Beijing in September 2009. The visit and event was funded

by the British Council. The International Symposium of Social Enterprise and

Self-employment was attended by University of Northampton faculty as well

as the Ministries of Civil Affairs and Human Resources and the Beijing based

Youcheng Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Professor Richard Sanders (NBS)

provided a keynote speech and Tim Curtis (NBS) presented his own paper on the

infrastructure required to educate more social entrepreneurs and also a paper

by Wray Irwin of the University of Northampton about grounded breaking field

research into the motivations of social entrepreneurs. Tim Curtis then hosted

a master class with three Chinese social entrepreneurs for postgraduate students

of CUEB.

A visit programme had also been organised to meet with emerging social enterprises

in China and to exchange case-study material. This has already been incorporated

into a case-study for first year undergraduate social enterprise students in the UK.

Discussions about longer term collaboration via virtual learning environments were

progressed and the UK team developed a very important insight into the history of

‘danwei’ work units in Chinese history and the future of social enterprise. This will

be the subject of ongoing research and academic journal papers.

Partnership with Top Chinese University

Staff awardsCongratulations to Dr Izabela Robinson, a member of the NBS Human Resources field, who recently received the Outstanding Reviewer Award 2009 from Emerald for work on the Journal of Management Development. Dr Robinson has also been appointed as a doctoral adviser at Capitol University of Economics and Business in Beijing.

Shaowei He, Richard Sanders and Tim Curtis of Northampton Business School meet the Founder of Miaolosophy, Lijun Liu, a social enterprise aimed at providing employment for crafts people of the Miaoethnic minority in China.

Research NewsAt the end of August, students from NBS attended the final ESRC Seminar on Methodology in Venice. This Seminar Series was a joint venture between five universities including Northampton Business School, culminating in a final seminar on issues around fear and physicality in research. Our students were in receipt of ESRC bursaries to attend and were able to make contact with other PhDs from a number of universities and network with the international speakers. Dr Sandy MacDonald from NBS will be editing a Special Issue of the International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion as an outcome of the Seminar Series.

Global EntrepreneurshipChesspoint, a community programme in Northampton based around free chess games in community locations met with first-year University of Northampton students recently to discuss social enterprise opportunities. This is a part of a series of meetings between students and community leaders to exercise their analytical and innovation skills to help the community sector. The students were given an hour long introduction to Chesspoint and its activities and then were challenged to suggest ways in which Chesspoint could scale its impact and engage in social enterprise activities. The whole programme was filmed as part of a partnership with a Chinese University funded by the British Council and a teaching case-study will also be developed for future students.The same students will also be competing in the Stanford University Global Innovation Tournament as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Enterprise and Research NewsNBS enterprise and research continues its rapid growth outperforming, in income terms, very many more prestigious universities. In the financial year 2008-09 the School achieved over £4m in Research and Knowledge Transfer bids, representing a range of funded projects primarily between 1 and 3 years duration; including match and project partner income streams.