Northampton company throws down the gauntlet to business-savvy students

Students from the University of Northampton will present their best ‘blue-sky’ thinking on everything from climate change and globalisation to social media in an upcoming business debate.

Undergraduates, postgraduates, and MBA students from across the Faculty of Business and Law will battle it out in the FBL Challenge Event, a team debate competition judged by Northamptonshire fruit-processing business Blue Skies.

The competing teams will address a wide range of challenges to commerce from climate change to social media to recent increases in national populism which threaten globalisation.

The panel of judges, composed of senior figures from both Blue Skies and the University will assess the students on their creativity, innovation and the quality of their presentation.

Dr Ebenezer Laryea, Senior Lecturer in Law and organiser of the event, said: “The FBL Challenge is the first of its kind within the Faculty. It is a unique opportunity for our students to apply the knowledge they are gaining from their courses to craft solutions to relevant issues raised by challenging commercial problems. And in the process have industry experts appraise, critique and reward their efforts.

“We are delighted that Blue Skies have offered to partner with us on this event. This is the result of continued and progressive collaboration between the Faculty and Blue Skies – a local business in Northampton with a global operation.”

The FBL Challenge Event is free to attend and will be held during the University’s ‘Changing Futures Week’ on Thursday 7 February between 5pm-8pm. It will be located in Room 017 on the ground floor of the Learning Hub.