PULSE News and opinion from Liverpool Hope Business School February 2018 | Issue 3
THE POWER OF GLOBAL JOB SUCCESS
STELLA’S STARS
GLOBAL HOPE
Hope graduate lands BDO employment.
Chennai students join IMBA programme.
Trip of a lifetime boosts skills.
News and opinion from Liverpool Hope Business School February 2018 | Issue 3
WELCOME TO PULSE There is a distinctly international theme throughout this issue, as we hear from students from our partnership institution Stella Maris College. Find out how a Global Hope trip can not only be life affirming but also help boost your CV, and follow our preparations for the International Business Games in Europe. We are also celebrating the news that one of our students has landed a coveted job at BDO UK LLP, and preparations have begun for the Liverpool Hope and The Leaders Club Awards. Elsewhere, Business Fellow and founder of The Leaders Club Stephen Fletcher talks to Pulse about his plans to forge a strong partnership with the Business School, and ensure Liverpool Hope is home to tomorrow’s leaders. As a Senior Professional Tutor and Development Coordinator, I am always looking for ways to connect businesses and external organisations to the excellent talent and resources available at Liverpool Hope. It is great to see our staff, students and Business Fellows engaging with the international business landscape and making a difference in the world. Ian McKenna Senior Professional Tutor and Development Coordinator
IN THIS ISSUE 2
Chennai students join IMBA course
6
Business school student wins £250
4
Hope academics visit Lille
8
Peruvian adventure for Sarah
5
Hope graduate lands BDO job
10
Meet Business Fellow Stephen
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NEWS IN BRIEF Accelerate programme launches Single Honours Accounting and Finance students can now sign up to the ACCA’s Accelerate programme, giving them a head start on their journey to becoming a chartered certified finance professional. The programme provides a faster route to ACCA membership, discounted fees and subscription costs, student support, access to employability events, and business-ready skills. Student Oliver Jarvis said: “Having access to the ACCA Accelerate programme is great. I’m looking to complete the outstanding exams for ACCA qualification following graduation, and this will undoubtedly be a massive help for me!”
Senior Professional Tutor collects PG Cert Senior Professional Tutor in Accounting and Finance Brian Ricketts collected his Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education at this year’s winter graduation. Before joining Hope, Brian spent 30 years as a qualified chartered accountant, spending his professional career in Practice. When he left the accountancy and business advisory firm BDO UK LLP in 2015, he was invited to join Hope and share his wealth of experience with students of the Business School.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
STELLA’S STARS
Chennai students join Hope’s International MBA programme. Students from Stella Maris College in Chennai, India, have been taking advantage of everything Liverpool Hope has to offer, since joining the Business School’s International MBA (IMBA) programme in October. Pooja Ramesh, who enrolled on the Study Abroad programme after being impressed by the University’s overall student satisfaction ranking, has enjoyed the style of teaching at Liverpool Hope. She said: “My journey in Hope’s Business School has been the most valuable and remarkable experience to date. The interactive classroom sessions give me the opportunity to unleash my potential, by sharing my viewpoint on the subject and relating it to real life. “The most fascinating part of the IMBA is the Trainee Consultancy phase, where students apply their theoretical and practical knowledge in a business setting. This phase provides hands-on experience, such as analysing client issues and making appropriate recommendations.” For Surabhi, learning from experienced business professionals has been refreshing. She said: “The IMBA course has given me a lot of international exposure, which will help me to develop my family business. The teaching approach at Hope is very different from my previous experiences, every tutor used case studies, which was a great approach.”
The pair will be working as trainee consultants with Northern Power Women, a collaborative campaign to accelerate gender diversity in the North of England. “I am excited and looking forward to working with this emerging business, to transform the culture of the organisation and society,” said Pooja. As well as making the most of the opportunities provided by the IMBA, Pooja and Surabhi have joined in some of Hope’s wider social and extra-curricular activities. Surabhi said: “The amazing campus and all the events being conducted made me feel so lively, and the international hub gave importance to our Indian festivals and culture, organising events for Diwali, which has been amazing. The gala dinner and all the small get-togethers at our halls have also been great. Pooja added: “Liverpool Hope provides excellent opportunities for students by organising cultural festivals, career development workshops, internship opportunities, sports, co-curricular activities and many more. The University has helped me shape my personality by providing lifetime career opportunities, which I will always cherish.”
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HIGHLIGHTS
BETTER TOGETHER Lille partnership leads to collaborative working. Business School academics have been sharing their expertise with Liverpool Hope’s international partner l’Université Catholique de Lille.
The exchange was arranged under the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme established between the two institutions.
Associate Professor in Economics Archontis Pantsios spent a week at the French university, delivering a short course on Microeconomic Theory.
WORKING TOGETHER
Dr Pantsios said: “It was a fantastic experience to teach a group of engaging, well-prepared and enquiring students. Many students actively participated by asking and answering questions on challenging subjects. This was valuable for me, as I taught my subject at an Intermediate Level and students gained from having interacted with someone with a different background.” The course was delivered in English to second-year undergraduate students enrolled in the International Economics Programme at the Faculty of Management, Economics & Sciences. Covering Imperfect Competition (Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition), Game Theory, Labour Supply and Intertemporal Analysis, the course was taught to 42 students. In addition to teaching, Professor Pantsios was invited to prepare student revision material and written exam assessments. 4 | PULSE Magazine
Dr Adnane Alaoui, Lecturer in Marketing, has also been busy working with colleagues from the l’Université Catholique de Lille on several research papers. He has co-written a paper on The effect of word-ofmouth on consumer decision making: A comparative study of Russian and British consumers with Dr Natalia Sulikashvili, which explores shopping habits in the two nations. Alongside this, Dr Alaoui has also co-written a paper with Dr Veronique Flambard, entitled What are the right Sensorial ingredients for creating a Hedonic shopping experience? A comparative study of the French and British consumers. He said: “The collaboration has been invaluable in helping me gain insights into consumers’ behaviour in France and Russia, which is key to my cross-cultural studies on this trend.”
HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST STEPS TO SUCCESS Graduate celebrates landing employment.
“Securing employment was a proud moment” For Accounting and Finance graduate Jessica Emmanuel, studying at Liverpool Hope Business School was the first step to securing employment at one of the city’s leading international businesses. Jessica is settling into her role at accountancy and business advisory firm BDO UK LLP. Pulse caught up with her to find out more about the coveted position.
were very committed and I was always able to gain extra support if needed. My degree prepared me for my new role as it covered a wide range of modules related to the accounting world. Particularly useful was an in-depth double entry bookkeeping and production of financial statements module. Securing employment was a proud moment, as it proved that all the hard work does pay off.
Tell us about your role.
What advice would you give to current students hoping to follow your example?
I’m an Accounts Assistant within the shared service centre. This role involves the production of statutory accounts and financial statements for businesses. During the production of these accounts, it’s important to make sure all figures balance, so I need good analytical skills. There is also the opportunity for me to take on a secondary role when I have been with the company for a few months, this may be in tax or auditing.
How did your degree prepare you for your new role? I studied Accounting and Finance through the Business School and received many opportunities to develop myself both personally and academically. My lecturers
Many students may not be thinking about employment during their time at university. However, I would advise you to start applying early, as many application forms are very time consuming and the recruitment processes often include tests and video interviews that have to be completed within short time frames. I would also encourage students to keep applying and not to give up.
What do you hope to achieve in your career? I would like to become a fully qualified Chartered Accountant. Studying a course providing ACCA Exemptions has set me on the right track, as I now only have to complete my professional exams. PULSE Magazine | 5
HIGHLIGHTS
TOP OF THE CLASS Student scoops £250 prize in placement competition. An innovative Snapchat-style presentation landed Marketing and Media & Communication student Tom Whittle a coveted £250 prize.
Tom produced a slideshow inspired by social media app Snapchat, which showcased the activites he was involved in and experiences he had. It talked about his first-hand involvement in organising events, drafting press releases and writing blogs for the company. Tom said: “I love being creative, so the placement was a great fit. The highlight had to be seeing my work actually used by dewinter in a professional way. “I’d encourage other students to take advantage of any placement opportunities. It may feel like you’re losing four weeks of your summer, but it is more than worth it for the practical experience.”
After completing a four-week placement at dewinter PR firm, Tom submitted an overview of his experiences into a Placement Diary Competition.
Tom was invited to present his placement diary to first year students and received the first prize award of £250 from Professor Ian Vandewalle, Head of the Business School.
HONOURING LIVERPOOL’S LEADERS New Liverpool Hope and The Leaders Club Awards to honour Liverpool’s leaders Inspirational leaders who have helped transform the Liverpool City region will be honoured at the inaugural Liverpool Hope and The Leaders Club Awards. Judges will be looking for demonstrations of excellent leadership in six categories; the Arts, Common Good, Enterprise, Health and Social Care, Education and the Uniformed Services. Nominees should exhibit leadership qualities, such as; honesty, integrity, courage, empathy, competency, communication, co-operation and impact. Liverpool Hope and The Leaders Club forged a partnership in 2017, with the aim of bringing together some of the UK’s best minds to tackle social and economic challenges. Discussing the inspiration behind the awards, Head of the Business School Professor Ian Vandewalle said: “Excellent leadership can change lives. It is vital in times of change, uncertainty and adversity.” The winners will be announced at a special awards dinner held at the University’s Creative Campus on Thursday 15th March. 6 | PULSE Magazine
HIGHLIGHTS
GAME ON International Business Game takes students to France and Belgium.
Coming Up What’s happening in the Business School this quarter. Industry Visits Week: Between Monday 5th – Friday 9th March, first year Business School students will visit regional and national employers across the Liverpool City region.
Students will get hands-on experience at businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. A team of 10 students will be travelling to France and Belgium to take part in an International Business Game featuring students from across Europe. Partnering with local students from Lille and Ghent, the Liverpool Hope students will be split into two teams and tasked with a series of businessthemed challenges.
Industry experts will share insights into their careers and organisations, culminating in a reflective assignment.
Exclusive guest lecture:
Each team will be in charge of a business and will be required to make decisions on all aspects of running the company, including accounting, human resource management, marketing and business management. Lecturer in Marketing Dr Clay Gransden, who will accompany the students, explained: “Decisions are made in regards to the purchasing of raw materials and manufacturing. Students will also have to choose the price point and the communication budgets, including marketing elements. “The central aspect of the game, however, is the accounting element, with each team having to produce cash flow sheets and account for every penny spent. Each day is quite intense, as the teams are put against the clock and each other to see who will win.” Among those chosen to take part in the game are eight first year students, who will be guided and supported by two second year students, who took part last year. As well as helping to improve communication skills and test students’ ability to work in a team under pressure, the game provides an opportunity to socialise with international students at events hosted in each city.
The Business School will also host a special guest lecture by Managing Director of Yeo Valley Karl Tucker. Yeo Valley has grown from a smallholding with just 30 cows, into the UK’s number one organic dairy brand. Mr Tucker will be joined by students, graduates and the local business community, as he shares the Yeo Valley story.
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GLOBAL HOPE
BROADENING HORIZONS
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GLOBAL HOPE Students at Hope are encouraged to act as global citizens, engaging with issues of social justice and striving to make a difference in the world. The University’s international education charity Global Hope provides staff and students with the opportunity to spend several weeks working at local initiatives in countries as diverse as India, Uganda, Brazil and Sri Lanka. Sarah Goulden, Employment and Enterprise Officer with the Business School, travelled to Peru in summer 2017, and here she shares her experience with Pulse. As part of the project we were working on, we redecorated a large nursery building in a deprived suburb of Arequipa. Once we were finished, all of the parents, staff and little toddlers who go to the nursery invited us back for a meal and to teach us some traditional Peruvian dancing. It was a moment I will never forget! As well as the privilege of working in the local schools and community centres, and meeting a lot of beautiful people, we also had the chance to visit Machu Picchu. We travelled over a weekend and it was absolutely incredible.
Global Hope is an incredible opportunity to travel, experience other cultures, meet interesting people and give back in such a special way. I don’t think there is any substitute for spending time in other countries. It’s such a game changer in terms of how you view the world, how you treat others and how you live your life. I couldn’t recommend it enough!
There were four students and three staff members on my trip and I’d definitely recommend spending time getting to know your team. We went out for dinner a few times, and did plenty of planning and prep for the activities while we were away. This meant that we were all relaxed and comfortable as a team straight from the start of the trip.
I love travelling and I speak Spanish, so when the opportunity came up to support the Peru trip, I couldn’t turn it down. The biggest appeal about Global Hope for me is that we were able to see the ‘real’ Peru. We didn’t stay on a resort, instead we were right in the middle of the city, meeting locals and finding out what life is really like over there. The whole thing was a real privilege.
International experience is great for students, as it demonstrates so many key employability skills. I experienced first-hand how adaptable, creative and determined you need to be working in another country. Global Hope adds these skills and more to your CV, and shows future employers that you were motivated and engaged at University, getting the most out of the experience.
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IN PROFILE
INTRODUCING In a new regular feature, we meet the Business School’s Honorary Business Fellows. This time we meet Stephen Fletcher, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Leaders Club (TLC). Why were you keen to work with Liverpool Hope Business School?
Why do you think real-world business experience is important for today’s students?
We live in a great region and I wanted to explore how we acknowledge that, particularly the quality of leadership and emerging talent. My principles of leadership harmonise well with the University’s ethos and I’m eager to create the foundations of a mutually beneficial partnership. I’d like to look at how we can offer nonexecutive directorship qualifications/MBA opportunities through the Business School, and widen participation in Merseyside’s business industry through placements and work experience.
Exposure to businesses and having an understanding of how things work in a real-world setting gives you a competitive advantage. Placements and work experience are a great way to put teachings into practice, and seizing every opportunity can be the key to progression.
I can bring my contacts from TLC to Liverpool Hope to share knowledge and experience with students and academics, in the hope of furthering the conversation around today’s big issues and challenges. It’s important to recognise the world is changing and at a rapid pace. It is vital businesses, leaders and influencers keep up, but it must be with a social conscience. Rather than just contributing to the debate, we must see results.
Drawing on your experience, what advice would you give students, as they begin their careers? Strive to achieve - be aspirational. I always believe ‘yes you can do it’, and this shared outlook is one of the things that attracted me to Liverpool Hope. Business is all about risk, and as long as you learn the lesson, you’ll often find resilience will take you in new directions. I’d always encourage people to look for the happenstance in life and remember that while leadership can be lonely, there will always be likeminded others who can share good practices.
CV
Additional roles
• 2009 – to date Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Leaders Club
Justice of the Peace (since 1984), Chairman of the Bench (Wirral 2005-7)
• 2008 – 2014
Managing Director, BroadCare
• 1996 – 2008
Founder and MD, BroadSkill
Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (since 2004)
• 1991 – 1995
Managing Director, Interskill
• 1984 – 1991
Founder and Managing Director, Royal Insurance Education Services
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Director and Founder (1988) of MERIT – Merseyside Information Technology Founder President – Rotary Club of Mid-Wirral
THE BUSINESS SCHOOL
ABOUT US: LIVERPOOL HOPE BUSINESS SCHOOL have run successful businesses. This means the School is highly qualified at an academic, professional and experiential level, to engage in research that connects with the business sector. With strong links to a range of leading local and national companies, professional bodies and organisations, and a range of innovative ethical and social enterprises, the School has a reputation for developing students with sound theoretical principles and a thorough understanding of contemporary business practices. The Business School curriculum is cuttingedge with all teaching research-informed and delivered by staff with both professional and practical backgrounds. A high number of staff have PhDs, while three members of the School
The School is organised into three teaching and research clusters; Accounting and Finance, Business Management, and Marketing. Guest lecturers and practitioner input, allows students the opportunity to visit companies, study abroad and work via Young Enterprise to develop and run their own business.
WHO WE WORK WITH:
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CLUB
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CLUB
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To find out more please visit: www.hope.ac.uk/businessschool
Pulse is published by Liverpool Hope Business School, Hope Park, L16 9JD.
T: 0151 291 3087 E: businessschool@hope.ac.uk
The views expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Liverpool Hope University.
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