CMS team reach semi-finals of University Business Challenge

A team of second year Computer Science students took part in the London semi-final of the University Business Challenge.

They had already beaten about 80 other teams to get to this stage and were now up against 3 teams from UMIST, and teams from Sheffield Hallam, Westminster, Bell College and Imperial.

The task was to set up a Wine bar from scratch and trade for 5 weeks.  Teams would be judged on the decisions they made about refurbishment, staffing levels, stock and profit but ultimately it would be their current account that would be the decisive factor. Results for the first 3 weeks trading were posted up and it was clear that the teams were all very close.  With two trading sessions left there was only £100 difference in the current accounts  of the first three teams and high risk strategies were adopted.  

During the day talks from the sponsors Chubb Insurance and IBM and encouragement from the organisers Learning Dynamics led to other quizzes and challenges. The team put together a fine radio advert for their bar and won the competition for a poster to explain the profile of Chubb as a global provider of insurance.

The results were announced in reverse order and when the team was awarded 4th place with a small current account loss of £58 it was a just reward for all their hard work and commitment.  Imperial College won the day and will join the last 7 teams in the final.

The students collect their awards

Special Thanks should go to Jan Malcolm who prepared the team and encouraged them in the early on-line rounds and to Marilyn Nichols for providing (and washing) the sweatshirts which were much admired and remarked upon.  Finally once again well done team for representing us so well.