Month: May 2022

Co-Founder of start-up company Chaperone, Pedro Fernandes Resende, along with Business Developer Catarina Morais Seabra wanted support for their business. Chaperone is an online platform designed to empower scientists in their careers by connecting them with career consultants across the globe, and the business is considering a move into the UK market. MBA Global students, Martina Proglio and Nicolas Sierra were tasked with researching a strategy for the business to use moving forwards.

Martina and Nicolas worked collaboratively to complete the research required by their ECP hosts. Martina said “we worked as a team in organising the job and evaluating how to best fulfil the research… Our aim as a team was to provide Chaperone with two projects that, once combined, would create a unique plan which could help the company to successfully enter the UK market”.

During the project, the students were motivated and worked closely with their project hosts to complete the research required. Martina said “The meetings with the host were crucial: at first, I used to update the host with the progress of the project, then I used to ask questions about his objectives for the company so that I could have more material to work on. Presenting the drafts and the work I did little by little to the host helped me to include key details essential for the project.”

Of the project, Pedro said “Similar to most start-ups in theirs first years, we lack human resources time to hire professionals…and the financial capacity to outsource this work. This model, to work with MBA students, is a very attractive alternative in order to focus on these challenges.”

As well as providing essential research for the business, the project also gave the students the opportunity to hone key skills. Following the completion of her MBA, Martina gained employment as a Junior Account Manager at an advertising technology company and says the ECP was instrumental in her development of skills which she uses in her work role today. She said: “The skills I developed and improved during the ECP are helping me to deliver my tasks… practicing what I have learnt during my studies helped me to comprehend my abilities, that allowed me to determine the job path I wanted to pursue, thus improving my job research.”

Moving forwards the company has been analysing the students’ research results and is putting this into action. Pedro says he would recommend the experience to other organisations as “It´s great to connect and work with young, motivated and skilful MBA students.”

To find out more about how your company can benefit from hosting an ECP student, email ecp@dmu.ac.uk.

In 2021, over forty students partnered with over thirty businesses to take part in this exciting initiative. Projects take place over the course of twelve weeks and span a variety of areas including market research, competitor analysis and research for future business expansion. Company hosts are equally varied, with businesses from the sport, charity and education sectors taking part. To participate in the initiative and prepare for their projects, students are required to undergo a selection process and also attend Work Readiness Bootcamp training.

Chandila Fernando, Co-Founder of The Investment Committee, requested ECP students to support his business. The Investment Committee matches investors with viable SMEs, and was looking for insights into a business plan and research into how to attract investment into a fund, to speed up the investment process for SMEs. International Finance and Investment students, Matteo Tanieli and Jose Fernandez, were keen to support the business and set to work on the objectives provided by their host.

Of the project, Chandila said “Standing back from our business it was important to consider alternative ways to expand and dilute our own thinking… Having on demand graduates willing to think of the unimaginable, and being able to push them into stretching their own creativity under adaptive guidance with tight deadlines, has been invaluable for both parties.”

Matteo said “I had never had a similar experience, let alone in a language that was not mine. But, after gaining confidence, thanks to the skills of the hosts and the Bootcamp activities, which are essential in my opinion, everything became much easier.”

Chandila found that by working with two students, this was of great benefit to his company, in gaining two different perspectives “Matteo and Jose had distinct outtakes from the project…Combining their thinking we challenged them to consider the perspective of would-be investors and the gap they could fill by engaging with their findings.”

Matteo found the ECP useful in his own development and said “In addition to honing your skills, being part of an ECP helps you to start creating your own network of professional contacts, which are essential for getting noticed and finding new job offers.”. The student also went on to provide advice for future ECP students and said “Don’t be shy and don’t be afraid to jump in.”

The outcome of the research during the project was an ethical lending platform, and Matteo so impressed his host that he has continued volunteering with the company to carry out the theorised platform.

Can your company benefit from the insights of an ECP student or group? Contact us on ecp@dmu.ac.uk to find out more.

Over twenty companies took part in the ECP initiative during the June 2019 cohort. Nick Hickman, Head of Marketing at Biosite Systems, a company that improves health and safety in construction environments, asked for an ECP student to investigate the scale of construction projects globally. This crucial research would be used to support the company’s expansion plans. MBA Global student, Felix Schmidt was well equipped for the challenge.

Of the ECP Nick said “Felix was an exceptional candidate and offered some really positive alternatives during the course of the project…The insight gained will help us plan more effectively and accurately for our geo-expansion plans.”

Felix summed up his time on his project with key pieces of advice for future students – “The three most important skills for successfully completing the ECP are time management, persistence and communication. The ECP definitely prepared me for my future career. The way of communication, the independent way of working as well as the time management requirements are valuable assets which I will need throughout every day of my future career.”

If you would like to find out more about ECPs, please email ecp@dmu.ac.uk.

Director of technology company Alpaka, Kate Rodgers, recently asked for an ECP student to undertake analyses to support the development of the business’ investment plan. MBA Global student Dinesh Sivakumar was well equipped for the challenge. During his ECP, Dinesh spent significant time getting to know Alpaka’s product; management software for companies which can be used to organise people, places and items. To support his research for the business’ investment plan, Dinesh even met up with his host company at a trade show to find out more about the company’s technology.

Of her experience hosting an ECP student, Kate said “It was great taking part in an ECP as it was possible to devise a brief that helped our business grow. Dinesh produced a very comprehensive report. He clearly showed his findings and explained how his research helped shape his conclusions. Dinesh was always professional and prepared for our calls and meetings. I would recommend the experience to another organisation, it was fantastic!”

Our congratulations go to Dinesh for his excellent work during his ECP.

To find out more, please email ecp@dmu.ac.uk

Susan Paez, Founder of A Cuerpo, a business which provides Spanish theatre performance and workshops to educate children, was developing a new business model to develop an online platform to support language learning. Susan requested a student to explore the market to find the viability for this new product. International Finance and Investment MSc student, Ravi Chauhan, was well equipped to support the business with this research.

Susan explained her reason for requesting support for her business from an ECP student: “As a one-person business it is difficult to cover all the skills that are required to run a business, and also there is only a certain amount of time in a day. I wanted to test the market and find out if there was an appetite for my business model.”

Susan also said “Ravi spoke to me, found out what I needed, created a questionnaire to study the market, implemented it and used this, along with further research, to write a report. This report was really useful to me as it compiled data that determined the business was viable and audience wants and needs.”

Of his project, Ravi said “I decided to conduct an array of different research avenues such as open and closed questionnaires…taking part in the ECP was difficult but I had to make sure I asked the right questions in order to progress with the report. Realising that I had created a game changing new business model for this new start-up company was most enjoyable.”

Susan said “I would definitely recommend other organisations to take part, there is nothing to lose and a lot to gain. My experience has been excellent and it has exceeded my expectations” 

Raka Garg, the Academic Supervisor assigned to support the academic aspects of the project, said “both student and host were equally committed and engaged in the project. Ravi brought in his unique perspective as well as business insights and research capabilities to address the project objectives…and Susan very engaged and forthcoming in working collaboratively with the student”

The ECP was so successful that the host has requested another student to continue working with in our current cohort.

Can you company also benefit from research conducted by a postgraduate student? Contact us on ecp@dmu.ac.uk to find out more and learn how you can take part.