- Almost 50 team entrepreneurs from Team Academy Aston ran, walked, cycled, and traded over five days
- One team completed a 24-hour multisport challenge in which participants cycled for more than 18 hours
- The week gave team entrepreneurs the chance to focus on the art and science of selling.
Almost 50 student entrepreneurs from Aston University, ran, walked, cycled, and traded their way to raise more than £2,500 for charity in just five days.
The first Customer Challenge Week of the academic year for the BSc and MSc Business Enterprise Development programmes, saw Team Academy Aston tasked with raising as much money as possible for their chosen charities, working in four teams to harness their skills and put their initiative to the test.
Between 11.00 am on Monday 1 November and 10.00 am on Friday 5 November, six charities benefited from the initiative. One team completed a 24-hour multisport challenge in which participants cycled for more than 18 hours, ran the equivalent of a half marathon, walked and free-skated around Aston University’s campus.
Other activities included a table tennis tournament, 5k run, make-up stand and jewellery sales. Teams also used cookies and cakes to incentivise donations from students and staff on campus.
The week gave team entrepreneurs the chance to focus on the art and science of selling, put their learning into practice and develop real-world business skills, all with a charity-themed twist. It also enabled them to work collaboratively with the Aston Students’ Union and Campus Safety teams.
Charities which benefited from Team Academy Aston’s activities included a mixture of local and global causes.
Close to home, team entrepreneurs responded to the growing alarm over spiking in clubs by raising money for Birmingham RSVP, a specialist sexual violence survivor support organisation. They also focused on Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which is adjacent to the Aston University campus.
Aimee Postle, business enterprise development team coach at Aston Business School, said:
“I’m incredibly proud of our team entrepreneurs, some of whom have only been on the course for a matter of weeks.
“To get stuck in and raise so much money for worthy causes in such a short space of time is a phenomenal effort.”
Dr Elinor Vettraino, business enterprise development programme director at Aston University, said:
“The Customer Challenge Week allows team entrepreneurs to learn by doing. Through our innovative self-directed learning programme, we enable current and aspiring entrepreneurs to explore business and social enterprise as they navigate real world activities.”
Other charities supported through Charity Customer Challenge Week included Cancer Research UK, WWF, Newlife (the UK’s largest charity funder of children’s specialist disability equipment) and the Make A Wish Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps grant the life-changing wishes of children with critical illnesses.
William Graves, Regional Fundraiser from Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: “We are so grateful that Team Academy Aston chose to support our charity as part of this project. The funds raised will help us to do more for our sick kids and families, making a real difference to all who use our hospital services.”
Sally Insley, Head of Public Fundraising at Newlife, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the team entrepreneurs at Team Academy Aston for their phenomenal fundraising efforts in aid of Newlife. Their support means that we can continue to provide much needed equipment to disabled children across the West Midlands region.”
To find out more about the MSc Business Enterprise Development and BSc Business Enterprise Development programmes, visit the following web links or register to attend the Aston University Open Day on Saturday 20 November 2021.
https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/business-enterprise-development-bsc/september-2022
https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/business-enterprise-development-msc/september-2022
https://www.aston.ac.uk/open-days/undergraduate
- Notes to Editors
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Alec Cameron is the Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.
Aston University was named University of the Year 2020 by The Guardian and the University’s full time MBA programme has been ranked in the top 100 in the world in the Economist MBA 2021 ranking. The Aston MBA has been ranked 12th in the UK and 85th in the world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)744691 0063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk
Be first to get the latest news, research and expert comment from Aston
by following us on TwitterNeed an expert for your story? Browse our expert directory