University helps young marketers aim for success

Teesside University has joined forces with an award-winning fashion retailer to challenge students to make their mark in business.

The University’s Business School and Steve Cochrane, Managing Director of leading fashion store Psyche in Middlesbrough, are behind a competition aimed at sixth-form college students from Tees Valley to Wearside.

As part of the competition the sixth-form students are working in teams to examine perceptions of Middlesbrough to help them devise a marketing strategy to attract customers from outside the region to Psyche. The teams are being mentored by students from the University’s MSc Marketing Management. Develop skills in enterprise and business The aim of the competition is to encourage the sixth-form students to develop their skills in enterprise and business, leadership and teamwork, communication and presentation, negotiation and creativity.

Noel Dennis, Principal Lecturer in Marketing in the University’s Business School, said: 'The competition is engaging and inspiring the students, while showcasing the region’s business talent. Perhaps most importantly it is sure to expose new business talent, which is essential to the regional and national economies.'

Steve, whose business Psyche has earned numerous retail awards, said: 'This region has a low start-up rate for businesses and I’m keen to get involved in anything which could encourage more young people to get involved in business.'

His own business success, from humble beginnings with a small punk clothing boutique in Redcar to the luxury department store he now runs, will also inspire the students involved in the competition.

He said:'“When I started off in business it was with just a little clothes shop, it was a bit like a cottage industry, but setting up your own business can be addictive. More partnerships between businesses and academia should be encouraged, it’s key to helping nurture the area’s business talent.”

The competition final will be in June at Psyche, where the teams will exhibit their work and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in front of a guest audience. There is a £1,000 prize for the winning team, with £500 for the students and £500 going to their college.

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