Inaugural 'Christine Ennew Business Challenge' is a triumph

The Grand Finals of the inaugural ‘Christine Ennew Business Challenge 2016’, sponsored by Ken-Rich Corporation, were recently held at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC).

The competition - named in honour of outgoing Provost and CEO of UNMC and organised in conjunction with the 15th Anniversary of the campus which Professor Ennew helped found - was aimed at offering students an opportunity to participate in a real-life business project.

Contestants were required to develop a business plan on the theme 'Male Toiletries for Daily Personal Care', to be pitched to Ken-Rich Corporation, an established manufacturer of household, industrial and personal care products based in Malaysia.

At the Grand Finals, five teams, selected from the 12 that had participated in the preliminary rounds, pitched their business plans and promoted their products to a panel of judges comprising the CEO of Ken-Rich Corporation; the Provost of UNMC; and senior academic staff from the campus.

Each team fielded questions from the judges that tested their knowledge of business strategy and analysis along with product communication and promotion skills. The Champion, and recipient of the inaugural Christine Ennew Business Challenge trophy, was Team EDGE, consisting of Business School students Fabiolla Netto, Evonne Chen May Yie and John Wong Yoong Wern, who won an all-expenses paid trip to The University of Nottingham’s UK campus.

Commenting on the inaugural competition, Professor Ennew said: "Business challenge competitions present students with a great opportunity for experiential learning; such events are an opportunity to work collaboratively, to think innovatively and to develop creative solutions to business problems."

In her closing remarks, the Chief Judge, Dato' Hooi Lai Lin (CEO of Ken-Rich Corporation), commended the quality of the performance of all the finalist teams and their innovative product ideas, remarking that in the practice of marketing and communications, it is important to note that "attitude drives altitude".

More information about the Christine Ennew Business Challenge is available from Ms Chan Wen Li, Director of Information and Communications, Nottingham University Business School Malaysia at wenli.chan@nottingham.edu.my