Two economics students helped their team win second prize, in the annual Universities Business Challenge. The competition featured nearly 40 teams of undergraduates from all over the UK.
Second year BSc Economics student, Reece Forbes, led a team of five Bristol students through three rounds of challenges – all designed to test undergraduates’ business strategy, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Reece’s teammates included third year BSc Economics student, Harri Smith, who was competing in the challenge for the second time – having reached the semi-finals in 2023/24.
This time, Harri, Reece and the team, successfully navigated the initial ‘business simulation’ round online, before progressing through the semi-finals in London in February. At those semi-finals, they were challenged to design the business strategy for a shop, and deliver a 60-second marketing pitch.
The third and final round of the competition took place in Southampton in March, where the challenges and business decisions the team faced became more difficult and intense. The students had to complete a variety of tricky tasks under pressure, using business simulation software.
Reece and his team performed brilliantly well under pressure, securing the second-place prize and £500.
Amy Lee, Faculty Employability Advisor for Economics, said: “It was a real pleasure to give our students the opportunity to take part in such a prestigious competition. It’s clear that all the participants gained valuable skills that will help them become more employable and confident in their future careers. They were excellent representatives of the University, and we’re proud of everyone who took part.”
Reece said: “The Universities Business Challenge really sharpened my problem-solving skills and taught me how to communicate clearly and quickly as a team leader.”
Harri added: “It has given me the confidence to talk to strangers and build new connections. It’s helped me sharpen my presentation skills and overall ability to navigate the business world – providing experiences I can reference in interviews and throughout my career. I can’t recommend it enough to students considering next year’s challenge.”
Well done to Reece and Harri, and to everyone in the five University of Bristol teams who took part in the challenge this year.
Learn more:
- Read more about Bristol’s participation in the Universities Business Challenge, on the Careers Service Blog.