Students at Brighton Business School took part in 'dragons den' events at the end of November.
Students developed and pitched their ideas to a panel of professionals in Sussex from organisations such as UK Trade & Investment, The Go-Ahead Group, NatWest Bank, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chartered Management Institute. The 'dragons' gave feedback and advice, to help students fine tune their business plan.
Ideas that were presented included a drop off delivery service, where parcels could be left in a security drop box and opened with a code sent by a text message, and a 'dine in the dark' restaurant.
Meltem Ribar, a student on the Management (Human Resources) MSc, said: "My 'dragons den' experience has definitely improved my negotiation skills. It also helped me to gain valuable experience working with students from different backgrounds and presenting to professional marketers. This kind of project may seem daunting at first, but in the end it prepares us for professional life."
The event is also valuable for the companies that took part in the event, showing the skills students at the university can apply to the world of work.
Jeffery L. Lovejoy Jr., Talent Acquisition Specialist at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said: "As a result of Brighton Business School's Dragons Den event, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has hired two future stars for our business and will potentially be recruiting two more. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to see potential talent outside the interview environment and, as a result, helps me find the best people for our business. I am looking forward to recruiting many more 'dragons den' graduates."
Further 'dragons den' events are taking place in Spring 2013 and a new 'angels den' event, with a panel including local, not for profit companies will run in May next year.
