Last week first year Events Management and Leisure Marketing students were taken on field trips as part of their Event Innovation and Leisure Innovation units, respectively.
With the aim of making the experience of developing a business case for a new event/product as realistic as possible, students are given a local client to work with.
After visiting the organisation at the beginning of the academic year, students go through the process of coming up with a new event/product, including its marketing plan.
It all ends with a presentation in April/May, where students have to present their idea/business case in a Dragons Den style pitch in front of the client.
This year’s clients include:
AFC Bournemouth
Haskins Garden Centre
The Bournemouth International Centre
Farmer Palmers
The Green House Hotel
The Littledown Leisure Centre
The O2 Academy
Demonstrator in Events Management, Kate Jones, took her students to the O2 Academy Boscombe, see picture. Kate’s group were lucky enough to see rapper Labrinth’s crew set up for his show in the evening.
“It is hugely beneficial to students to be able to undertake a project on “real life” clients and students in previous years have said how valuable that aspect has been. The field trips that I went on with my students were really excellent and our clients are very encouraging of the work our students produce. We are hoping this year’s students will be as equally innovative with their event and leisure products!”
Pearl Morrison, Events Tutor said: “The challenge has been set high again this year for our students to be creative and come up with some innovative new ideas for our external organisations. Students really enjoyed the tour of AFC Bournemouth with Black Label Events visiting the Radio Station and the new Bubbles Champagne Room. Taking the students to venues off-site has worked really well to engage and motivate students over the last 4 years. Gail Collins, Marketing Manager of the BIC commented that the students ‘were the most focused group she has seen from Bournemouth University and was very excited about the Dragons Den presentations after Easter’
We will be keeping you up to date with the students’ progress on the Innovation Unit throughout the year.