'Business Practice Week' bridges gap between theory and real world

24 December 2014

Nottingham MBA students recently got a first-hand taste of different types of organisation, examining their business model and approach to problems and business functions. This is the second time, the Business School has organised ‘Business Practice Week’ following the huge success of last year when students visited workplaces as diverse as pharmacy chain Boots, multinational aerospace and transportation company Bombardier, a regeneration tour of the Kings Cross area of London, a stately home, and even a cattle market!

Typically, those embarking on the MBA programme will already have several years of business and management experience behind them but this may have been gained in one organisation or industry field, so the chance to gain knowledge and understanding of other companies and sectors is a unique opportunity that enables a broader perspective of the business environment. One student that took part in the week, emphatically underlined this point: "It was interesting to see in practical life what we've found in lecture or text books. Mostly, to feel the people and atmosphere as well as the conversation we've had at each of the companies help us to think deeper and explore new things through new questions."

The highlights of this year's Business Practice Week schedule included:

• Tour of the Co-Operative Distribution Centre - one of the UK's largest food retailers.
• Talk on business turnaround following the credit crunch hosted by global financial corporation Capital One.
• Company visits in Nottingham to Boots and BioCity, the UK's largest bioscience innovation and incubation centre.
• Company visists in London to: "Big Four" professional services firm - Deloitte; financial software, data and media company - Bloomberg, consumer electronics; computer software, online services, and personal computer giant - Apple; and business and technology consultancy Boldrocket.
• One day workshop on responsible and sustainable business for SME's.

Business Practice Week is part of a wider programme of opportunities for Nottingham MBA students to engage directly with a variety of organisations and understand how key business concepts are most effectively applied. In 2009 the flagship ‘Global Business and Leadership Experience Programme’ was established to provide MBA students with the opportunity to gain a unique insight into international business. In the six years since the programme started, over 140 MBA students have participated in various study tours covering four continents i.e. North America, South America (Chile), Europe (UK), and Asia (China). The tours provide first-hand experience of global businesses and insights into contemporary issues and different business cultures through company visits, direct access to key executives, and a programme of cultural excursions. MBA students have visited more than fifty internationally renowned companies since the programme launched including Bayer, AstraZeneca, JP Morgan Chase, 21st Century Fox, the New York Stock Exchange and National Geographic among many others.

MBA Programme Director, Dr John Colley commented: "Linking theory to practice is at the heart of our MBA teaching and learning strategy. Having a genuine understanding of the business landscape and knowing how to apply knowledge and skills to solve problems is what gives our students a significant competitive advantage."

If your company is interested in participating in Business Practice Week, please contact MBA Progammes Manager, Elaine Kay at elaine.kay@nottingham.ac.uk

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