News Rising to the Challenge! 22.09.2022

Collyer’s students got a taste of the real world of business at the Challenge of Management 2022, run by Collyer’s at the 5-star South Lodge Hotel!

The event enabled teams of eight students, each led by a top representative from the regional business community, to compete throughout the day in a number of business games and team building exercises.

Expert business representatives and guest speakers supporting the event included: Harry Adams (NHS), Toby Cotton (Kreston Reeves), Paul Cleary (Caribtours), Amy Green (SR Insurance Solutions and President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Sussex), Mike Humphries (Young Enterprise), Jenni Hadfield (South Lodge, an Executive Hotel); Nick Kearley (Lloyds Banking Group), Demetria O’Sullivan (The Illustrant Partnership), Ian Robinson and Kim Senior (both Assurity Consulting); Smita Warren (RSA); Molly Doba, Olivia Gerrard, Jay Osman and Guy Watts (all Architectural Plants).

The popular and successful day is a key part of the college’s progression initiative and gave students a taste of the real world of management and employability skills.

Collyer’s Director of Progression, Rebecca Adams, who co-ordinated the event, said: “These business professionals are all incredible supporters of Collyer’s and have given so much time, creativity and energy to help the next generation. Our students found them truly inspiring!”

Throughout the day, attention was drawn to the learning opportunities that the tasks provided and Q&As about the routes available after college. Harry Adams, Toby Cotton, Molly Doba, Olivia Gerrard, Amy Green, Mike Humphires and Guy Watts gave fascinating insights into a number of pathways including apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and sponsored degrees.

As well as benefiting from this practical and personal advice, student teams enjoyed an interactive ice-breaker, and then competed in a sculpture and presentation competition, a cave dilemma and the ever-popular production challenge. Using real life examples and techniques, teams discussed, planned and presented their ideas, all to win prizes throughout the day.

Collyer’s Ian McAlister, who hosted the sculpture and presentation challenge was delighted: “Students took the event very seriously, were ready to learn and certainly dressed for success! Throughout the day I was impressed and humbled by the sheer talent within the room.”

The individual student prizes on the day went to Zoe Algar, Ewan Merewood, and Katie Smith. The overall prize for Best Student Contribution (sponsored by Wakefield’s) was presented to Jacob Niner.

Andrea John, Vice Principal (Pastoral) said: “Massive thanks to Collyer’s Ian McAlister, Julie Crysell, Sarah Tillier, Roger Raymond, Claire Savage, Lani Douangchak, Carrie Colbert and Jonathan Hearn for their outstanding support. This is a complex day with many moving parts, so I cannot thank Rebecca Adams enough for organising it!”

Deputy Principal Steve Martell, who hosted the event said: “What a great day! Enormous congratulations to Jacob, Ewan, Zoe and Katie and all of our talented students, who are an absolute credit to the Collyer’s community.”