1. Grand
opening
of the new
facilities in
e
Cottesbrook
Welcome year 1 students
Celebrating
success
Graduation summer 2011
with you
What your lecturers get up to when they’re not working

2. Message
he
freoumetDean
Ex c tiv
and staff alike
It’s such an exciting time for students
h record student
in Nor thampton Business School. Wit
new staff and
numbers yet again this year, a dozen
, we are looking
the opening of our new student hub
m successes. Once
forward to many individual and tea
n acclaimed in the
again the school’s teaching has bee
ch placed Business
National Student Sur vey (2011) whi
Students are
18th out of all UK business schools.
, as such, we
our first, second and third priority and
centred facilities,
are investing heavily in our student
loyment orientated
technology enhanced learning, emp
broader student
activities, social enterprise and the
duates from the
social and learning experience. Gra
in multiple top
school last summer have secured jobs
companies while increasing num bers have chosen
ement during
to undertake a one year student plac
ng a vibrant
their study. NBS is increasingly becomi
iness school with
and exciting, truly international bus
s from around
students, business clients and par tner
the world.
@ianbrooks6
Featured in
this edition...
facilities in
The grand opening of the new
Cottesbrooke P.5
Comments
Welcome year 1 students P.6
Would you lik
e to commen
en they on any of the t
What your lecturers get up to wh stories
are not teaching you P.8 featured in th
is edition of
BusinessWise
k your ? Got an idea
The Centre for Employability, boo for the next is
sue? Let us
ent
appointment to discuss placem know –email
0 businesswis
opportunities P.1 northampto e@
n.ac.uk
Celebrating success Graduation
summer 2011 P.11
Published by Northampton Business School T. 01604 892036 E. businesswise@northampton.ac.uk
Editors: Hayley Hunter and Michelle Smith. Design: Stamp
www.northampton.ac.uk
Every effort has been made to ensure that all of the information contained in this edition of Business Wise is correct a the time of going to press.
Please note that The University of Northampton accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements in this and other marketing publications.

3. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 2
Parisian Placement
“
I originally heard about a placement year given a new way of looking at life. Since completing my work
during my second year as a student. At first I placement I have increased my extracurricular activity and do
didn’t think it would be for me as I wanted to not miss an opportunity to meet new people because I truly
finish my studies as soon as possible and I also believe that they are the key to everything.
didn’t think I’d need the experience as I was
already involved in volunteering groups and my grades were I am so glad that I decided to take a work placement. It is
good. I also wanted to work for a small company and didn’t really helping me with my studies and since I came back to the
think I would be able to. UK I have received more calls from companies for permanent
positions than ever before. I feel 100 times more confident in
Over the summer holidays, I went home to France and my family myself.
and friends convinced me to use my personal network to find a
work placement there. Coming from an artistic family I really I would definitely
wanted to find a position in a theatre. recommend a work
placement to other
I was successful in getting a work placement as a PR & students, the experience
Marketing Assistant at Le Theatre de La Tempete in Paris. is invaluable. My advice
My job role was varied; I was responsible for developing to those looking for a
relationships with prospective customers both companies and placement is to use
individuals, organising group outings, representing the theatre your network, develop
“
at events, developing marketing communication plans and it, contact different
working on a new mapping system to better segment customers. companies and go and
meet them!
The placement year offered me the opportunity to think about
what I wanted to do in the future and how to get there. I feel
that I would not have had the time to reflect on these issues BA (Hons) Marketing
if I had gone straight into my third year of study. I have been
ured work
This year our students have sec
mpanies: A year with BMW
placements in the following co
hampton
Avon Cosmetics Ltd – Category Co-ordinator – Nort David Richards, a BA Business Entrepreneurship student
- Devon
Bovey Castle – Events Co-ordinator took a one year placement at BMW, Bracknell, as an
nt - Coventry
Broad Horizons Enterprise Centre – Student Placeme Internet Marketing Assistant. During his time there he
- Northampton undertook such duties as project managing new pages
Carlsberg - Change Co-ordinator
– SAS Programmer - Leeds and applications, improving agency relationships as well
Covance CRU Ltd
ts Trainee – Cheltenham as problem solving for new projects.
Cowley Manor – Management/Even
ent Trainee – Newmarket
Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Managem
Special Events Intern - London
Estee Lauder Companies – MAC bridge
David commented:
– Junior Software Engineer – Cam
European Bioinformatics Institute “I decided to take a placement year as I knew it would
unts Assistant - Banbury be beneficial for me to gain work experience and make
Faurecia Automotive Seating – Acco
- London
Global Reach Partn ers – Financial Services Graduate myself more attractive to companies when looking for
les, USA employment after university. I enjoyed gaining experience
Gorgeous PR – PR Intern – Los Ange
hampton in the real business world and it has helped me to realise
Gringaux Acco untants – Trainee Audit Clerk - Sout
Support – Midd lesex where I want to get to in my career. I also feel that
IBM – System X Sales Operations taking a placement year has given me an advantage over
nt Trainee – Corby
Kettering Boro ugh Council – Accounting Placeme students who haven’t.
on
LK Bennett – PR Assistant – Lond
tor Assistant - London
News Internatio nal – Fabulous – Fashion Co-ordina Being on a placement year has really helped with my
Pop PR – Press Assistant – London studies. I now have the goal to get a first, I had the goal
ner - Kibworth before my placement but now I see the importance of this
Stones Events – Assistant Event Plan
er Swarovski Intern – London and how much it will help me in my career in the future. I
Swarovski – Ateli
/ Events Assistant - Biggleswade would definitely recommend a placement year to anyone.”
The Mansion House – Marketing
Support Analyst - Northampton
Travis Perkins plc – Business Risk pton Since graduating in July 2011 with a first class degree
Union – Events Assistant – Northam
University of Northampton, Student David has been employed as a Marketing Manager at
pton Busi ness School – Placement and
University of Northampton, Northam pton local company USB2U.
Employability Assistant – Northam
munication Manager - Peterborough
Vivacity – Sales, Marketing & Com
Marketing Internship – London
World Design & Trade, Firetrap –

4. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 3
Accountancy
visit from
A strategy
the experts
On the Thursday of welcome week the
for a million?
new accounting students were given
the opportunity to attend sessions that
were organised by a variety of external
visitors. The students firstly met with
Lisa Day and her team from ICAEW
(The Institute of Chartered Accountants
in England & Wales) The students
engaged in a business game organised
by the members of ICAEW and aided
by representatives of Grant Thornton
where, in groups of five or six, they
had the challenge of deciding which
investment opportunity would give the
best returns given financial and other
information about several competing
companies. Each group presented
their decisions giving reasons for their
choice and much discussion and debate
resulted. Final year undergraduate students Delivery Service by Sulleman Petit and a
studying Financial Strategy responded cleaning company. From an academic
well to the challenging assignment set perspective these assignments achieved a
by tutor Mike Eade. This year students richly deserved A grade. From a practical
were encouraged to write a business plan standpoint some of these plans may turn
which could be turned into the reality of a into a successful business which employs
full or part-time job on graduation. Given others.
the state of the economy a business plan
was seen as a useful way of integrating The real challenge for students is to come
an understanding of operational up with a practical idea which requires
management, marketing and accountancy. minimal financing and offers opportunities
After a buffet lunch there were a number
There is also the hope of making a fortune for growth to the point where the business
of talks including a partner from the
local accountancy firm Hawsons who or at least a decent living. can become fulltime. The usual practice
explained his career path over the years in academia is to ask students to start a
that resulted in his present position. A number of students thought through business with £25,000 from the mythical
Graduates employed by Nationwide their ideas to the point where serious long lost relative in Australia. Starting
also talked of their university experience consideration is being given to trying as a micro-capitalist requires a lot
and their experience of successfully to put the idea into practice. This will more thought, research and planning.
applying for graduate positions. One require the support of parents, friends and Throughout the business plan process
of these graduates, Matthew, recently relatives on graduation. The businesses there was plenty of help available to
graduated from The University of included proposals for a company that students during seminars.
Northampton with a first class honours, will provide pollination services to farmers
BA Accounting & Finance. The day and breeding services to apiculturallists Given the emphasis on employability and
finished with a talk from two recently (beekeepers), a custom-made soft entrepreneurship, so vital to the global
graduated students, Sandra and Dana, furnishings business, a security company, economy, Northampton Business School is
with their tips on making the best of Sew Perfect a tailoring company by again focusing on the issues faced by all
university life having also graduated Tasmina Begum, Coastal Cuisine Food businesses.
with first degrees in Accounting &
Finance.
ar studen Sur.
Final yeThe National Student tsvey –
in
Have your say
coming to an Inbox near you in the new year.

5. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 4
Our
very
own
pin
up
When Luke Tate started out on the After graduating with a First Class Honours Luke was keen to share his story with other
BA (Hons) Business programme with degree Carlsberg were quick to snap students considering a placement year so
Northampton Business School he did Luke up on a full time basis as a Human our central Marketing team arranged a
not expect to become a poster pin up on Resource Advisor. professional photo/film shoot. The resulting
graduation. video has been a major success on You Tube
and on the University web site and this has
Luke took full advantage of the opportunity also led to a poster campaign around the
for a year out in industry and with the help county where Luke can be seen adorning
of The Centre for Employability secured many of the bus stops.
a placement with Carlsberg at the UK
Headquarters based in Northampton.
Following a successful placement year,
Carlsberg offered Luke some part time work The Centre for Employability
to fit in with his final year of studies. has a new office located next
to The Hub in Cottesbrooke so
Luke believes that having the opportunity to why not call in and make an
take a year’s work placement enabled him appointment to talk about
to stand out from the crowd. The confidence placement opportunities.
and experience he gained over this time
made him more of an attractive prospect to
employers.

6. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 5
Grand opening of the
NEW Cottesbrooke facilities
Northampton Business School were delighted On Thursday 6th October Northampton sleight of hand, powerful card magic, and his
to unveil the £1.7m extension to the Business School invited students and staff to ability to bend cutlery with his mind he was a
Cottesbrooke building which boasts a new celebrate the official opening. Vice Chancellor big hit with all the guests.
social learning space where students and Professor Nick Petford, and Executive Dean
staff can get together to work in small groups of NBS, Dr Ian Brooks, welcomed over 100 Following the opening event pictures were
or share ideas over a coffee. Students were students and staff to the new facility’s official posted on Facebook and students have been
asked on Facebook for suggestions to name opening. tagging themselves and
the new space and we opted for ‘The Hub’. adding comments, Thomas
The Hub will be open from 8am – 8pm and BBC Radio Northampton Hughes posted his comment
offers wireless connection to the internet, broadcast live from the on Facebook ‘Very Snazzy’.
allowing students to work with their laptops, in opening, interviewing Northants Chamber of
addition we have vending facilities to get a hot guests. Svetlan Iltsenko, Commerce tweeted ‘Just
or cold drink and a selection of snacks. The aged 20, a second year been to the opening of
Hub provides a considerable enhancement student from Russia the Business School (@
to the student experience for undergraduates whose Tourism degree NBSUniNorthants) extension
as well as our postgraduate and part time is based at the Business @UniNorthants. A fantastic
evening students. We hope the space will be School said: “Last year facility’. We would love to
a hive of activity allowing students to connect, we had nowhere to really hear your comments about
learn, reflect and inspire. go between lectures the new facilities on Twitter
unless we wanted to @nbsUniNorthants.
The extension also offers new spacious keep walking back and
teaching rooms equipped with the latest forth across campus. The extension has been in
technology and student breakout rooms Now we have this great tentative operation since
located on the first floor which can be used space and I think our September 2011, and the
for group work and to practice presentations. time will be spent far facility has already been
Students can book these rooms through the more productively. I’m very excited to use the used for external meetings for the Bank of
business school reception using their student boardroom and have professional space for England for a conference on the ‘future of the
card. We also have an additional computer presentations.” UK economy’, as well as a seminar delivered
suite and a boardroom which will be used by by Floyd Graham & Co Solicitors on agency
students to simulate industry style meetings During the opening students were entertained worker regulations.
and agency presentations. Reaction to by Robert Gough, an award winning magician.
the new space has been very positive from Robert offers a fresh spin on magic and
students, staff and visitors alike. provides a unique humour. With his expert

7. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 6
s,
2011 Fresherweek
t
pics from the firs
Want to share a
photo? Post on our
Facebook page
NBSUniNorthants

8. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 7
In F cus Events...
3rd November 2011 11 – 3pm
Careers Fair
Come along to The University of
Northampton’s annual Careers Fair
and talk to employers about the
including how to manage and measure
multiple agendas. opportunities that they will have
available when you graduate.
Olinga will offer guest lectures and one
to one mentoring, as well as supervising
research students particularly in areas 3rd November 2011 6 - 8pm
of metrics, connected communities, Guest Lecture - Peter Whitehead
microfinance, Faith 2.0, social media, Financial Times
regeneration and ‘Big Society’ How hard can it be to run a big
paradigms. business?
He built his corporate pedigree by To book please e-mail
specialising in hypergrowth companies business@northampton.ac.uk
and those in severe difficulty. He
retired last year at the age of
50 from the business world,
having held P&L
responsibility in
organisations from start-
ups to US$ 600 million
with 9000 staff, mostly as
CEO/ Chairman positions
across private, public and
third sector organisations. 23rd November 2011 1 - 2.30pm
Accountancy careers talk hosted
Olinga Ta’eed, was described In the last decade Olinga has focussed by Lisa Day of Institute Chartered
in April 2011 as an his efforts in the third sector as Chair Accountants England and Wales
“entrepreneur, investor and of some of the largest BME (black
minority ethnic) charities in Europe 8th December 2011 6 - 8pm
social activist” by a leading in capacity development and mental Guest Lecture – Alan Fraser Rush
US University. Olinga joins health, as well as smaller charities in Global Planning Director, Sweden
Northampton Business children’s environmental studies and Lowe Brindfors Advertising Agency
School (NBS) as Professor Asian family issues amongst others.
He remains involved in mentoring and
in Social Enterprise at The the performance arts where he has
Got an eve
University of Northampton, considerable hands on experience. Olinga advertise or bo nt to
the only such post in the UK. has returned to his academic roots to oks to sell?
take up the position of Professor in Social Please feel free
to use the
One of the key focuses for Olinga’s work Enterprise at Northampton Business designated stud
ent notice
at NBS will be to enhance the student School adding to some 70 published boards on the
1st floor in
experience of cross sector blended solutions, papers. Cottesbrooke to
some with community engagement, advertise
your events or
sell books.
Alternatively yo
u can post a
notice on our Fa
cebook wall at
NBSUniNor than
ts.
Children in need 2011
Visit the Centre for Community Volunteering to see how
to get involved
www.northampton.ac.uk/volunteers

9. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 8
Ever wondered what your
lecturers get up to when
they’re not working with you?
Thailand Ties
embedding SFIA in the curriculum. Talks
are now underway to look at the feasibility The Restaurant
Ross Thompson, Senior Lecturer and
of offering NBS students the opportunity
to spend a year studying at INCAP.
Inspector comes
Course Leader for the BAM Top-Up
Degrees, spent five weeks working as a
to town
visiting professor at Eastern Asia University
(EAU) in Bangkok (Thailand). Ross spent his
Global Entrepreneur Senior Lecturer in Marketing
time teaching the local students, working Project Grant Timms was featured in Channel
5’s The Restaurant Inspector, after he
with EAU staff, meeting educational agents, gave his valuable advice and support to
visiting schools and educational fairs. Ross Dr. Shaowei He, Dr. Dave Burnapp The Vineyard, a local family-run
found the trip invaluable – apart from the and Professor Zhigang Yan (Shaoguan restaurant.
heavy rains – and feels the experience has University) have been leading on a
benefitted him greatly in terms of cultural collaborative project with Shaoguan Grant Timms worked behind the scenes
understanding and sensitivity. Ross has University in China, funded by the British helping restaurant owner Amy Walder.
been helping to finalise an agreement with Council Prime Minister’s Initiative for Grant said ‘In these tough economic times
EAU which will allow their students to study International Education (PMI2). The aim it is more important than ever to focus on
for one year in the UK and receive a dual of this partnership is to help students customers. Amy and I have been thinking
Bachelor’s degree award. of different cultures to work together creatively about finding new ways to attract
to develop as global entrepreneurs, customers and most importantly, building
by enhancing their cross-cultural strong relationships to encourage them to
Hugs and Kisses communication skills and knowledge of the
business environment of other countries.
keep coming back’.
in Chile In order to achieve this, the project team
has created an innovative training module
In early September Susan Bailey, Principal which aims to develop students’ cross-
Lecturer and Field Chair for Information cultural understanding and communication
Sciences and her colleague Carole skills alongside the traditional
Morrell were invited to the Technological entrepreneurial and employability skills.
University of Chile INACAP by Chancellor,
Gonzalo Vargas and the Dean of
International Relations, Joaquin Valenzuela.
INACAP provided a very warm welcome
to Susan and Carole. The Chileans have a
habit of hugging and kissing you everytime
Warm welcome for
you meet up! Susan and Carole delivered
a lecture on the implementation of Skills
Izabela in Beijing
Framework for the Information Age (SFIA ) Dr Izabela Robinson, Programme Leader
across INACAP’s IT degree provision and for MA HRM and PG Diploma HRM has
provided workshop support, in addition returned from visiting Capitol University
they facilitated a comprehensive workshop of Economics and Business in Beijing
for the faculty and administration team where she delivered a series of lectures
involved in the SFIA implementation NBS Student Rachel Franklin took
to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD
process, on the practicalities of part in the project and said “I have found
students on the topic of Strategic HRM and
the experience to be exciting and rewarding.
the contribution of SHRM to organisational
I enjoyed working with both students from
performance.
Northampton and more excitingly overseas
students. I also learnt quite a bit about
entrepreneurship in the process. I think that
this type of learning has great potential.
To have the chance to study, talk and
exchange ideas with students thousands of
miles away in a totally different culture was
the bit that was the most enticing for me.”

10. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 9
THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND
STAFF WHO TOOK PART IN THE MACMILLAN
COFFEE MORNING. IN TOTAL WE RAISED
£160.00 FOR THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE.
Thoughts on the
FINANCIAL The case for volunteering
TIMES...
Northampton Business School are
pleased to continue offering daily
copies of the Financial Times free of
charge to students. The feedback from
students is very positive and there is
a real sense of how much this helps
students with their studies.
“Since I have engaged with this paper Getting a good degree is not enough; One recent Business Studies graduate,
over the last couple of months it gives employers are looking for graduates that Peter Sara, found himself leading his own
me intellectual knowledge and allows stand out from the crowd, have relevant project, planning and organising a range
me to participate in discussions both experience, can think outside the box and of awareness and fundraising events for
within and outside the university. The who can demonstrate key skills through Fair Trade and commented “ Without this
FT has given me the confidence to practical examples. experience I would be leaving university
speak openly about what is happening without a strong direction to follow, I’ve
in the world which has helped me to Volunteering is recognised by university’s as developed loads of skills and, as a result
develop hugely as a person.” a way for students to gain experience and of my volunteering I want to pursue event
“The finance pages originally scared try out career paths and it has the added management in the voluntary sector’.
me but now I am able to take my time benefit of helping communities and charities
to read through and look over to gain provide vital services. CfCV will be holding regular drop
knowledge and understanding of the in sessions in Cottesbrooke C121 on
subject….. The broadsheet paper has The Centre for Community Volunteering Wednesdays between 9.30 and 12.00 during
enlightened me. At first I was most (CfCV) is The University of Northampton’s term time so if you have questions about
apprehensive about opening the own campus based service to help you find volunteering or you simply want to find out
daunting paper but now I am almost the type of volunteering that best suits your more about opportunities please pop into to
excited at the thought of picking out needs. So whether you want to do something see us or email
stories, facts and figures to share with based on your studies, interests or a passion, volunteers@northampton.ac.uk or visit
my peers.” CfCV has hundreds of opportunities that you www.northampton.ac.uk/volunteers
“The FT has helped me in my lectures can get involved in and a team of friendly
and seminars as I can now understand staff offering advice, guidance and support.
the tutors and think the same way.
This also means that when I come to
write up assignments I can use the
vocabulary in my work to show that
I have a good understanding of the
business world.” News Flash: wship
“I believe the FT to be a very good Mike Eade has been awarded a Fello
source of information, which when of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries
read regularly can be a really good
and Administrators (ICSA)
way to increase your knowledge and
give you a better understanding of
business and therefore better grades.”

11. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 10
THE CENTRE FOR EMPLOYABILITY
The Northampton Business School Centre Centre for Employability
for Employability is based within The Hub. Mon – Friday 10 - 4pm
You can book an appointment with staff to
Community Volunteering -
discuss a wide range of work placement
Wednesday 10 -12 noon
opportunities. In addition the Centre will
provide a space for students to meet with Careers & Guidance –
University Careers & Guidance Officers, Friday 10 -12 noon
Advisors from the Centre for Academic
Centre for Academic Practice –
Practice and The Volunteering Team.
availability to be advised
Tambudzai Mangezi
Lecturer in Financial
Mobile
To...
Services
phone
Dr Nikolaos Pappas
app
Lecturer in Marketing
Dr Ilenia Bregoli iNorthampton helps you stay
Lecturer in Marketing connected to The University of
Northampton from wherever
Dr Cristina Quinones you are, on or off campus. Use
Lecturer in Human iNorthampton to find anyone in
Resource Management the directory and get in touch
instantly, stay in-the-loop with the
Bettina Downing
English as a Second latest campus news, watch videos
Language Leader from recent campus events, check
Dr Holger Siemons timetables and courses as well as
Senior Lecturer in browse our library catalogue, or
International Business even check out our latest events.
Search inorthampton
Dr Andrew Gough
Lecturer in Operations
Management to download
Dr. Olinga Ta’eed
Professor in Social
Enterprise
Lisa Hanson
English as a Second
Language Instructor
Tannish Thakker
Placement and
Philipp Kuhl Employability Assistant
Project co-ordinator
Dr Kai Liu Sandra Whittleston
Lecturer in International Senior Lecturer in
Business Information Technology
Service Management
Dr Lien Luu
Senior Lecturer in
Financial Services

12. BusinessWise - Student Edition Page 11
Issue 36
Celebrating success
Graduation summer 2011