Member Article

Business School students flying high with social-media consultancy

An innovative business consultancy project has been led by Newcastle Business School Northumbria University, BA (Hons) Corporate Management students to look into alternative ideas for Newcastle International Airport’s Social Media Strategy.

As part of the project, three teams were given the brief to form a consultancy company which would both review Newcastle International Airport’s current social media channels and present back their recommendations as to how the airport could enhance customer engagement through contemporary communication channels. The groups further developed recommendations for a Social Media strategy to cover the next five years.

Each consultancy presented their ideas to a panel of judges which included Graeme Mason, Planning and Corporate Affairs Director at Newcastle International Airport.

The presentations provided detailed analysis of Newcastle International Airport’s current social media activity including research into how such approaches are being adopted in other related industries. Ideas for increasing customer engagement included updates to the Airport’s current Facebook page, free Wi-Fi access being offered to Airport users if they accessed through the Airport’s Facebook page and a You Tube promotional film to illustrate the ‘customer journey’ for first time flyers.

The standard of proposals made was very high, with the winning team being ‘Decagon Consultancy’ who impressed the judges with their innovative and cost effective ideas, presented in a professional style. Each member of team was presented with a copy of a book celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Airport.

Graeme Mason, Planning and Corporate Affairs Director at Newcastle International Airport commented “We have been hugely impressed by the amount of enthusiasm, drive and passion that Newcastle Business School undergraduates have put into this project. It’s great to hear such fantastic ideas and it’s been a real pleasure working with Newcastle Business School – being involved with community engagement is something we’re very keen on at Newcastle International Airport”.

Angus Nesbit, Senior Lecturer on Newcastle Business School’s Corporate Management Programme commented that “providing our Undergraduate Corporate Management Students such fantastic exposure to working on ‘real life’ business cases is an effective way to develop the business acumen skills that employers are increasingly seeking. Such an approach is embedded throughout our programmes. The students have learned practical business consultancy skills that they will use to further the contribution they make whilst on their 2 year placement with an employer. This follows a rigorous selection process then an intensive first year within the Business School which accelerates the development of their leadership and management skills.”

For information about the programme or if your organisation is interested in a two-year student placement visit http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/shapingyourfuturetalent
or contact Rob Wiggins, Business Development Manager for an informal chat on 0191 227 3576 or
e-mail Robert.Wiggins@northumbria.ac.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Northumbria University .