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Business Enterprise graduates
All BSc Business Enterprise students who have graduated since the first cohort in February 2008 have established their own businesses, been appointed to interesting jobs or have gone on to postgraduate study.
Interested in becoming a BBE student? Read what our graduates have had to say about their time at the University of Buckingham. To read more about experiences from our alumni, click on the graduates’ name to follow through to their BBE story:
Esme Finch (British):
Graduated 2014
“I came out with a 2:1 BSc Hons degree in Business Enterprise, a thriving eco-business, a brilliant mentor and set of contacts I will have for life.”
Alex Meazzini (British):
Graduated 2014
“Over the 2 years it taught me how to balance and manage my workload including running a business but also preparing for exams etc. As a result I believe these skills have stood me in good stead to enable my success in the workplace.”
Lun Sun (Chinese):
Graduated 2014
“This course is amazing, but if you’re not interested in business at all, or you think you will make lots of money as soon as you graduate, I will not suggest you join this course, because you will be disappointed!”
Tong Guan (Chinese):
Graduated 2013
“Buckingham has the highest lecturer-student ratio and lecturers are patient with students in both office and private hours. Therefore I had the opportunity to have close relationships with many of my lecturers in different subjects.”
Kate Murphy (British):
Graduated 2013
“I found the course to be extremely insightful to the business world and it has provided me with a variety of skills that make me stand out amongst the crowd.”
Alex Lehmann (Swiss):
Graduated 2012
“The BBE degree programme is certainly something that gave me the opportunity to get access to and acquire knowledge in every area which relates, not only to starting and running a business, but also to get a broad and general understanding about the world of entrepreneurship.”
Salem Said (Saudi Arabian):
Graduated 2012
“Other than all the obvious academic benefits and memories, the BBE has taught me how to maximise the work-life balance, and equipped me with tools to handle any challenge.”
Euan Leckie (British):
Graduated 2011
“The breadth and depth of the BBE course modules provided a wealth of insight into how companies are both operationally and financially managed.”
Rumbidzai Kunzekweguta (Zimbabwean):
Graduated 2010
“I gained a full knowledge and understanding of what it takes to plan and implement the operation of a successful business. One of the things I appreciated most about the BBE programme was the opportunity to meet successful business owners.”
Sean Obedih (British):
Graduated 2010
“This experience was incredibly valuable and whether I pursue a corporate career or take a more entrepreneurial path, my business education has been greatly enriched by my involvement with the BBE programme.”
Davinia Obedih (British):
Graduated 2010
“The Business School at the University of Buckingham gave me the opportunity and the support I needed to achieve my potential as an undergraduate student. The academic and support staff are a small and highly supportive team, who acted like an extended family to me.”
Andre Roberts (British):
Graduated 2009
“Having studied on the Business Enterprise course at the University of Buckingham, I have learnt many principles key to progressing, in what some may call a career in risk taking. However as I learnt on the course, it’s always good to gain some experience before going and doing it by yourself.“
Romel Pacson (British):
Graduated 2008
“My BSc in Business Enterprise honours degree has given me all the skills, confidence and abilities to be successful. I am truly proud that I made the right decision to join this course.”
Joanna Major (British):
Graduated 2008
“My experience on the BSc Business Enterprise course has given me valuable insights into business, which have helped greatly in my accountancy training and work.”
- 1st cohort of BBE graduates from 2006-7
- 2nd cohort of BBE graduates from 2007-8
- 3rd cohort of BBE graduates from 2008-9
- 4th cohort of BBE graduates from 2009-10
- 5th cohort of BBE graduates from 2010-11
- 6th cohort of BBE graduates from 2011-12
- 7th cohort of BBE graduates from 2012-13
- 8th cohort of BBE graduates from 2013-14
2006-7 1st cohort
Here is some information about the first cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2006-2007), provided by themselves.
Right now I am looking for investment, so that I will be able to start contracting Skydive Centres in Europe. I started this tour in spring 2010. In January 2010 I organised a “Skydive” event for marketing purposes; I negotiated a 10 minute TV report with the Austrian television channel ORF. I am currently working on www.halihop.com. This is a solo ticket service for skydivers. In future I will relaunch http://www.skydivedudes.com and will integrate it with an e-commerce shop. Entrepreneurship is my passion and I am still pursuing my vision!
Here is a brief overview about what happened after finishing my studies in Buckingham: In January 2008 I joined the Brewery Eggenberg in Austria where I became the head of a newly-built visitor centre. During 2008, we had about 40,000 visitors and I was heading a team of 8 full-time / part-time staff. In January 2009 I started a six months education in beer brewing to become a “Certified Brew Master” at the VLB in Berlin, Germany. Since then I have worked again in the Brewery Eggenberg. After I started in the brewing and production department, I now work in Sales & Marketing but also as an assistant to my father (owner). In January 2010 I started with my Master’s degree at the SDA Boccioni in Milan, Italy where I was accepted to do a Master’s in Fine Food & Beverage Management. After that year, I plan to gain some further work experience in the food & beverage industry before taking over my father’s business in about 2-3 years.
I’m teaching English at Beijing Language and Cultures University and improving my Mandarin. I’m also running two bands here. At some point I plan to work as a university French teacher for a period. For both the musical projects I’m organising I don’t think I would be able to do them without having studied business. We are organising a tour of South China and Argentina, so in terms of organising projects and negotiating contracts the business training is invaluable. Just sorry I’m not running a multi-million dollar start-up that you could mention. Though admittedly I’m not doing anything business-related, the degree was invaluable as universities don’t employ people without one and all the best teaching jobs in China are in universities.
2007-8 2nd cohort
Here is some information about the second cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2007-2008), provided by themselves.
Having graduated in February 2009, I decided that I wanted to follow a career in accountancy. Despite the difficult financial situation at the time, my first class honours degree, and experience running my own business at Buckingham, enabled me to get a job as a Trainee Accountant, working for Michael J Emery & Co. Ltd in Newport Pagnell. I am also studying for my ACCA qualifications, which will take about three years. So far I have completed the knowledge-based aspect of the qualification. I am learning all aspects of accounting and have assisted on some company audits. My experience on the BSc Business Enterprise course has given me valuable insights into business, which have helped greatly in my accountancy training and work. I am able to understand the problems encountered by the owners and managers of companies and can also see where our firm can help our business customers.
Andreas Hampel (Austrian)
Before I attended university I decided to take a gap year in which I travelled around the world. I then studied Business Administration in Vienna for 18 months. However, I was not very happy with the institution and its teaching style, so decided to go to Buckingham to take advantage of the very individual teaching style and the unique Business Enterprise honours degree programme in 2007. After graduating in 2009 I worked in the Middle East and was then offered an internship at Morgan Stanley in the summer of 2009. Following the internship I received an offer of a permanent position at Morgan Stanley’s Frankfurt office, where I am currently working in the M&A division.
Tom Foddy (British)
I graduated in December 2008, right in the heart of the recession. I made the decision not to jump into any job but accept a role that was right for me, the course at Buckingham gave me the confidence in my abilities. Through a lot of hard work and an innovative way to apply for jobs I got a role that was ideal for me with Wells and Young’s Brewing Company in Bedford. I am the first graduate to go on to this scheme at the brewery. They have given me the opportunity to see every department within the business. Spending time in each area has developed my passion for business that I developed on the Business Enterprise course as well my love and passion for cask beer. Over the next year I am looking to repay the investment made in me by Wells and Young’s. I am moving into the sales team aided with a qualification in brewing and confidence that has been gained during my time at university and on the graduate training scheme.
I have been working for NARS Cosmetics (external link) in London since August 2009. I was hired because of my flair for the cosmetics business and my plan of how I could turn a failing retail counter into a successful one. It took a lot of persuasion, as I didn’t have any experience of working in retail. However the fact that I had run my own business during the BSc Business Enterprise programme at the University of Buckingham helped me to convince NARS management to employ me. I remember mentioning during the interview that working for them is not all about selling, but about “understanding customer needs and requirements profitably”, but of course retail is all about putting money in the till, achieving targets and maximising sales. The definition of marketing was really helpful and they were quite impressed! After few months, the customer counter’s base has expanded by 60%, sales have tripled compared to last year and between August 2009 and July 2010 I exceeded my sales target by more than 20%! As a result, I became the top NARS sales person in the London Region. My BSc in Business Enterprise honours degree has given me all the skills, confidence and abilities to be successful. I am truly proud that I made the right decision to join this course.
Sailendra Thulasidharan (Indian)
I am Sailendra from Coimbatore in southern India. Coming from an entrepreneurial family I had the same inclinations for a career path. So I went on to study BSc Business Enterprise. This has given me a great opportunity to pursue my passion by starting and running a business while simultaneously studying a business degree. After which I underwent 6 months training in BSA Motors and 6 months in Sundaram Clayton (an aluminum die-casting company). Both these businesses were family-run companies that gave me an excellent opportunity to learn what it takes to run a manufacturing business in India. Following that I joined my family’s Rajaratna Mills that is a manufacturer of cotton yarn. After finishing my training here I was put in charge of one of three manufacturing locations with 500 employees, and its charitable works. I was instrumental this past year in reducing our manufacturing lines’ reliance on grid electricity and as of today 80% of all the electricity we use comes from wind energy. The company has gained some expertise in the energy sector through this and has decided to diversify into power generation businesses; and as a start, spearheaded by me we have successfully commissioned a wind farm. Now I intend to take some time off this work and hope to go back to Buckingham and study Law. Besides having a passion for law I have seen it is immensely useful for my career.
2008-9 3rd cohort
Here is some information about the third cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2008-2009), provided by themselves.
Sebastian Musil (British)
The BSc Business Enterprise programme stood me in good stead to apply my knowledge of the wide range of disciplines taught over the two years, in a business application post-university. I have a keen interest in renewable energy and I was lucky enough to be allowed to explore this further, albeit after downscaling my already very ambitious plans, as advised by my Programme Director, Nigel Adams, and rightly so. However the experiences during my time in Buckingham changed me into a more confident and business-minded person. So much so that I have been able to go back to my original plans and persist in making them a reality, with the business I set up during the course, Podnik Ltd. It would be wrong of me not to mention my friend and fellow graduate, Alec Greenwell, who I am working with in this venture. Alec and I bought the business from the University after graduation and began working on a project to build a commercial wind turbine in East Yorkshire. This flagship project will no doubt support our aim to develop further projects in the UK and abroad.
Having studied on the Business Enterprise course at the University of Buckingham, I have learnt many principles key to progressing, in what some may call a career in risk taking. However as I learnt on the course, it’s always good to gain some experience before going and doing it by yourself. So soon after graduating from the University of Buckingham I applied to a post at a small entrepreneurial company called Z-Three, who are one of the master distributors of BlackBerry Accessories. Working with this company for a year allowed me to apply the principles I had learnt at Buckingham, which meant working with and presenting to large corporate and multi-national companies on their Smartphone usage.
If not for Buckingham, I would not have had the public speaking, presentation and tenacity necessary to work with such a company. Though my title was Corporate Sales Executive, I still remained an entrepreneur and pioneered the company’s online presence, by creating its first online retail site. At this point I would like to thank James Rowell, my operations management teacher, as my work required a lot of warehouse and process management skills. The site now serves more than 21 countries with authentic BlackBerry Accessories.
After working, as planned, for a year, I decided to pursue my entrepreneurial streak and identify new areas of business, especially within the Tablet PC market. I have been able to retain some of my work with Z-Three, as my own business’s first contract is to continue to administer various online elements of Z-Three’s website.
2009-10 4th cohort
Here is some information about the fourth cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2009-10), provided by themselves.
Rumbidzai Kunzekweguta (Zimbabwean)
I gained a full knowledge and understanding of what it takes to plan and implement the operation of a successful business. One of the things I appreciated most about the BBE programme was the opportunity to meet successful business owners. Most were more than willing to provide guidance and mentor us through our business ventures at the University of Buckingham and beyond. I learnt that true entrepreneurial spirit is focus and persistence, the ability to work with others and belief in your own capabilities. It is not about textbook knowledge but from the trials and experiences of real situations in your desired field.
I have a keen interest in the Health and Beauty field and I was awarded the opportunity to work with the Health and Wellness team on the UoB campus led by Stefan Ridley. This experience, coupled with the support of my lecturers, helped me to discover my niche market in another place in the Health and Beauty industry.
After I graduated in 2010, I decided to gain more experience in the Health and Beauty industry. I was hired by STEINER PLC the leading spa providers on cruise ships around the world. Currently I am an intern at a company called Ziminx in my home country of Zimbabwe. This is a manufacturing company that has withstood one of the harshest economic climates in the world and I feel I have a lot to lean here especially if I am going to set up a business here.
I have started planning my own hair care brand for afro hair. My experience on the BBE programme taught me lessons that will always remain with me. Firstly to make sure your business is solving a real problem for a specific target audience. Secondly and most importantly, have an unwavering passion for your business that will not only inspire you to persevere in the production of quality when times are tough but also inspire others to believe in what you are selling.
When I enrolled for the BBE programme in January 2009 I did not know what a transformation those two years were going to bring. I was attracted by the opportunity of an environment where I could run my own business while pursuing an academic qualification, something that had been a farfetched lifelong dream and winning a SEGRO scholarship made that dream a reality. Little did I know that my life would be turned around forever because in the summer of 2009 I also got married to Davinia a fellow BBE and we now have a wonderful son, Douglas, who was born in October 2010.
Having graduated in Feb 2011, I decided that I was going to concentrate on gaining more Professional Financial qualifications and I have also enrolled on a master’s course in Investment and Risk Finance. The BBE programme truly helped me focus my strengths and desires towards a successful and fitting entrepreneurial path – a maturity I could never have gained without such incredible people that I met at Buckingham. I recently started Search Funders International, a vibrant global body dedicated to an optimistic future for Pan emerging markets investments opportunities.
Entrepreneurs are ‘enablers’ of growth who help break down economic barriers and social constraints. This experience was incredibly valuable and whether I pursue a corporate career or take a more entrepreneurial path, my business education has been greatly enriched by my involvement with the BBE programme.
Read about Sean’s new projects: The Founders Hive (fuelling start-ups and empowering entrepreneurs) and Sobek Ventures (focusing on corporate ventures in Africa).
The Business School at the University of Buckingham gave me the opportunity and the support I needed to achieve my potential as an undergraduate student. The academic and support staff are a small and highly supportive team, who acted like an extended family to me. When you are far away from home or when life throws you its usual, but still traumatic, ups and downs, you will need such committed support to manage and get through any programme, but especially the rigorous BSc Business Enterprise degree!
The practical nature of the BSc Business Enterprise programme means that you get many chances to try new things, to fail at them in a safe arena and to keep trying until you fine tune some key skills that will make you feel confident as you venture out into the real world. The soft and hard skills I learnt and the content of the degree programme itself have been vital to my job as a Business Studies teacher in a challenging inner city secondary school in London.
I had the determination and confidence to apply for a coveted position on the “Teach First Leadership Development Programme” and have had to manage my time and the support available, to take immediate responsibility for teaching Year 9s, Year 10s, Year 11s and Year 13s; for completing assignments / tasks to achieve QTS and a Masters Level PGCE from the Institute of Education; attending required leadership training and workshops from Teach First; while still being a mommy to my son (whom I had in my final year at Buckingham) and a wife to my husband (whom I met on the BBE programme at Buckingham).
I have no doubt that the University of Buckingham, the Business School and the BSc Business Enterprise programme can equip you with abilities and knowledge that can change your life. Come open minded and ready for new experiences!
Konstantin Pysarenko (Ukrainian)
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine and then lived in the USA for 14 years, achieving my IB diploma in PSI in Kiev, before I started my BSc Business Enterprise honours degree at the University of Buckingham in 2009. After finishing the fantastic BBE programme at Buckingham, I am now running two business, the first is one of the largest tour operators in Ukraine, called SAM. I am also establishing an entertainment business in Nigeria and as a result I am currently living there.
The BSc Business Enterprise (BBE) programme helped me a lot in developing my management skills, business knowledge, communication skills and business ethics. BBE also helped and continues to help me to run my businesses in Ukraine and Nigeria.
I am also a certified PRINCE2 practitioner and a certified M_o_R practitioner, the BBE programme certainly helped me succeed in these two additional qualifications. Finally, I am a professional show jumper and have competed in the European Championships twice, though I can’t say that BBE helped me with this!!
2010-11 5th cohort
Here is some information about the fifth cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2010-2011), provided by themselves.
Having enjoyed a career in media, graphics and 3D animation, I enrolled on Buckingham’s Business Enterprise degree programme as a mature student (42!) in order to gain a better understanding of the workings within my family’s businesses.
The breadth and depth of the BBE course modules provided a wealth of insight into how companies are both operationally and financially managed, with coursework ranging from risks in business to marketing to company law to business ethics… and much else besides. The hands-on nature of the course (a business is run whilst studying) made for a highly challenging yet extremely fulfilling two years of study with lectures and tutorials skilfully delivered by the Business School’s excellent and supportive academic staff.
Upon leaving the University with a first class honours degree I joined the board of Trident Energy, a UK marine energy company. I continue to trade equities in both main and junior markets and in 2012 my first fiction novel Underdog was published by Macmillan.
I am also currently studying for a Master’s degree in Phytotherapy, Pharmacognosy and Alternative Medicine with a view to establishing a naturopathic and psychotherapeutic health centre with my wife Emma on our Buckinghamshire farm. Once our scientific studies are complete, the enterprise degree from Buckingham will be invaluable in helping us turn our business vision into a sustainable business reality.
2011-12 6th cohort
Here is some information about the sixth cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2011-2012), provided by themselves. More information about subsequent graduates will be published here.
Born in Geneva and raised in an entrepreneurial family in Switzerland, Germany & Austria, that gave me the motivation to start my academic foundation in the BBE course. My aim was to work after graduation in a global business environment.
Having a BSc (Hons) in Business Enterprise is definitely one of the best intellectual assets in my possession, after graduating in December 2012. The BBE degree programme is certainly something that gave me the opportunity to get access to and acquire knowledge in every area which relates, not only to starting and running a business, but also to get a broad and general understanding about the world of entrepreneurship. I am proud to say that I gained this knowledge while co-running an estate-letting agency as part of my degree.
After graduating from the University of Buckingham, I directly transferred for 3 months back to Switzerland where I re-joined the Swiss Army Infantry and continued my national service with a NATO officer’s rank of First Lieutenant. There I followed further training to operate as a company commander, which entailed the leading and educating of close to 200 people with 25 staff subordinates.
After 3 months, I developed a business, which I co-founded from scratch during my studies in Buckingham as a hobby and trial project (not BBE based), by winning three long-term exclusivity contracts, specialising in the online-gaming industry with the aim to become an outsourcing contractor for major companies. The project was and is a great success. I can also confirm that this project was successful as a result of following close to 30 BBE modules and one major premise: “Starting a business with a lot of money is easy, but starting a business with passion and creativity is much cheaper.” (Adams N., 2011)
While negotiating contracts for the business, I was also given the opportunity to work for a global microsurgery foundation, which is one part of my family’s business. For one month I was working in a team of engineers and surgeons on a start-up distribution concept in the field of computer-aided technology / manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in Brisbane, Australia. I was again able to apply my training in business planning and operational management skills, which only the BBE course was able to give me.
Since September 2013, I have been a postgraduate master’s student at the University of St Andrews, studying international business.
Manjeave Singh Lotay (British)
The year or so post-BBE has been rather eventful and really kicked off with a trip to India for a couple of months. For me this trip was a turning point in my life and really kick started my ‘post-BBE’ journey … and truly drummed in what Nigel had been telling me constantly to … JUST DO IT (JDI)!
Whilst in India it was as though everyone had this attitude to life, from rich to poor! I understood that this mentality is needed to become not only a successful entrepreneur, but a successful person in other aspects in your life.
On my return I always wanted to do some more charity work. Armed with my BBE knowledge and my JDI attitude I found a charity in which I felt I could make the most difference. The charity is called The Small Business Consultancy. It is a social enterprise that inspires people from hard-to-reach and marginalised backgrounds to become successful and thrive through progressing toward employment and self-employment.
For this charity I acted as a mentor or consultant to a group of young adults, acting as a “Nigel Adams – lite”. But my greatest achievement was applying for the prestigious New Entrepreneurs Foundation Programme. The New Entrepreneurs Foundation is on a mission to find and develop the UK’s next generation of entrepreneurs. Each year, NEF selects up to 30 of the UK’s brightest, most entrepreneurially minded people to join their unique year-long paid programme.
I just missed out on a place on the programme, having reached the final 35 out of a possible 30 places! Even though I was gutted, the plus point was that a marketing head from Ogilvy liked me and offered me an internship placement at Coley Porter Bell (CPB), the branding arm of Ogilvy. CPB is a leading strategic branding consultancy, part of WPP and the Ogilvy group and my core responsibilities there included:
- Researching & analysing companies’ reports and industry publications to spot branding needs along with industry trends.
- Supporting client services with account management tasks & pitches.
- Visual Planning™ and liaising with our creative services team to design or update our marketing materials.
- Creating a campaign to send to clients / prospects to create awareness & corporate identity.
Some of the iconic brands we worked with include Coca Cola, Coutts Bank, Nestlé and Unilever.
Now I am working for a company called Endpoint, a small organisation punching well above its weight … and ultimately succeeding. They have based their success on employing ‘the best’ from their fields. By doing this they have won key accounts including 02 Entertainment and most impressively being awarded the way-finding strategy contract for Masdar City in Abu Dhabi!
I’m currently an assistant project manager for Endpoint working with a senior project manager who was one of the heads in the Olympic Deliverance Team for London 2012. One of our current projects is the Ernest Young (EY brand re-launch) and Wembley Park Development with Quintain.
Academically I am continuing to study towards my Chartered Institute of Marketing Post-Graduate Diploma and my Diploma in Communications (CAM) with the aim to complete both by mid-2014.
Before completing my degree I thought I knew what I wanted to do, what my next steps were and where I wanted to be in 5 years. Looking back, I still know where I want to be in 5 years. However I think the path to get me there has changed drastically. Having graduated in 2012 I started working on my online business for the real estate sector here in Saudi which is booming exponentially.
I am also partnered up with a media company specialising in 3D animation and 3D modelling. So if anyone ever needs anything along those lines feel free to contact me.
I am currently working for PWC Saudi Arabia, in the Deals Department, specifically Mergers and Acquisitions. Our job is to make the story of buying or selling a company as clear as possible to the interested party. Our roles include (and are not limited to) financial due diligence, evaluations and the all-important business plans.
Other than all the obvious academic benefits and memories, the BBE has taught me how to maximise the work-life balance, and equipped me with tools to handle any challenge. I plan to do a MBA in Sports, enabling me to combine my business attributes with my love for sport.
Studying at the University of Buckingham, I had a chance to get a real life experience of starting and running a jewellery business. Dealing with suppliers in China, customers in the UK, analysing the competitors, challenging the accountancy, whilst also working on a night-shift job to earn money, I was gathering knowledge and allies like puzzles, knowing that one day, I will join them all together to start my own company, which is the goal I have pursued every day since my graduation.
Straight after receiving my honours degree, I decided not to put myself further into debt and as such decided not continue in further education but to get myself a job as soon as possible and save enough money to finally leave home and expand my own business ideas. Unfortunately with an economy in recession and literally hundreds of people applying for each place, finding a job proved to be a job in itself.
Studying carefully the banking industry, its monetary policy based on the fractional reserve system, I tried to find a job within the investment banking sector, where I could combine my own personal interest of saving money from inflation by purchasing the right type of investment products while taking the best advantage of my own analytical skills and economic knowledge. Finally after a year of running from one temporary job to another across the UK, I found myself a placement at Skandia in Southampton where for the next 6 months I will be gaining experience as a Financial Data Administrator and hopefully after that period of time will be offered a permanent position with the investment funds sector, which is the ultimate career development I wish to make.
2012-13 7th cohort
Here is some information about the seventh cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2012-2013), provided by themselves.
After graduating from high school in New Zealand, I decided to join the BSc Business Enterprise programme with a unique and inspiring group at the University of Buckingham in 2012. During my two-year (8 terms) study, despite all the other benefits and knowledge I received, two aspects were extraordinary.
First, Buckingham has the highest lecturer-student ratio and lecturers are patient with students in both office and private hours. Therefore I had the opportunity to have close relationships with many of my lecturers in different subjects. Nigel Adams is the perfect example, he was not only my Programme Director and lecturer who empowered me with knowledge, but also my mentor and friend who helped me with my personal life and gave me advice even after my graduation.
The second aspect is the design of the programme. Although I graduated with a First Class Honours Degree, the most valuable skills I learned at Buckingham were the transferable skills, such as time management, working under pressure and out of my comfort zone, communication with a diverse team and fast learning. These transferable skills enabled me to self-study and successfully pass ACCA exams during holidays and also my Master’s degree. Although MSc Management at Cass Business School was said to be one of the most complicated programmes in the UK, as there are 20 modules in 1 year, I coped with it very well. In the meanwhile, I received an offer to study for a PhD in Strategy from Warwick Business School from Autumn 2015 and this could be my next challenge.
Apart from academic and personal development, I have lovely and sweet memories of my time at Buckingham because I met my adorable fiancée there, without her encouragement, I could never have achieved what I have achieved.
All in all, Buckingham is such a nice place to study; you will find a peaceful place, friendly, effective and efficient staff. I hope you will enjoy your time here.
Tim Kertscher (German)
I know the word entrepreneur goes around the world nowadays as something everyone sees themselves as as soon as they tried to start a business or even if they have just the thought of being an “independent worker one day!” So what I would like to say here is that I am willing to prove that I am worthy of taking this amazing title of being an entrepreneur and would like you all to be part of my incredible journey!
Short thing about me: I have previous experience in setting up a business but none of it was to do with technology or the web itself. The businesses I co-founded were an importing business (Easy Import Ltd) and the other was an events business where I was the right hand and principally coordinator for my friend Dan.
Now to the project that this all is turning around on: LinQfish! LinQfish is a business I set up to help international students settle in better in Germany and other European countries by creating incentives for every student to act upon requests of other, fellow students needing help with settling in a new environment.
Don’t be discouraged, and keep your head up and remember: Everything that you presume as something bad ALWAYS has a bright side to it, you just go to find out what it is!
I am currently working for a thriving IT company called Touch Systems Ltd; as part of my role I deliver first class installation, implementation, configuration, training and hand-holding throughout system roll-out, both nationally and occasionally internationally. I graduated from the University of Buckingham in 2014 after studying Business Enterprise. I found the course to be extremely insightful to the business world and it has provided me with a variety of skills that make me stand out amongst the crowd; I am disciplined with deadlines, a great communicator, organised and work well under pressure – all qualities that have blossomed during my time at the University. It is both challenging and rewarding running a business and studying a full-time degree in two years but I wholeheartendly recommend the course to anyone with a keen interest in Business.
Amelia Tran (Vietnamese)
After leaving university in 2014, I worked at a mechanical and electrical company in Vietnam. Our majors were to install and commission M&E construction for building and resort. My role mainly involved in bidding and procurement. It seemed to be a good job for me in terms of well-paid salary and open-minded experience. However, I did not feel right and satisfied with the way the business was run, with not enough responsibility for the jobs they did and for their – or maybe it is my problem that I can not compromise with non-transparency. I resigned to follow my belief: “One day, I and my team will contribute to create good, honest and high quality products”. It would be a good blend of 4 elements, related to our daily life relationship: nature, society, family and health. We believe that our products would survive, sustain and make their marks in life only when we care for those elements. We plan for 5 to 10 years. Until now, our product lines are: ecofriendly IT accessories; cultural gifts made of Vietnamese traditional resources; LIK family games: customers make useful furniture and things from our provision of wooden blocks; PODU: rattan bike developed from a concept of if we stand together like a bunch of chopsticks, no difficulties can break us. It could be a long journey, but, enjoy the road and we will get there.
… and Flynn-Kha Tran
My mom gave birth to me when she was a student at the University of Buckingham in 2013, I am 2 years old now. Before her last exam, she sent me back to Vietnam so my grandparents could take care of me. I lived with them in a beautiful city with a long beach named Nha Trang for a year while she was working in Ho Chi Minh City. When she quit her job, she brought me back to stay with her and we have had more time together. My dad and my mom really love me, and because I was a good boy at school, I get lots of biscuit and ice-cream. Our house was made from wooden blocks, I played wood with my dad most of the time. I even help my mom to water our balcony garden. Sometimes, I help my dad sanding the furniture to ship to many places. I love swimming, football and balloons. I hope one day I could go back to Buckingham and visit my aunties, uncles and grandparents. Love you all!
2013-14 8th cohort
Here is some information about the latest cohort of BSc Business Enterprise graduates (2013-2014), provided by themselves.
The past few months have been exactly what I have needed. Time to reflect on my crazy time at the University of Buckingham, how quickly it flashed by and the one of a kind whirlwind journey it was.
Life seems so different now, I work as a Business Development Director with my father for his environmental business (go-figure) working with renewable energy, which I’m currently helping to rebrand – fitting really for the one who came up with ‘Squeaky Green.’
As for Squeaky Green, the business is still going – don’t worry. I’m just redeveloping at the moment.
I never miss an opportunity… And will always look for them. If you’re like minded, that’s my one piece of gold-dust advice. Take a chance. Life’s full of risks, and the risk takers live fuller and more colourful lives.
Being your own boss is one of most stressful but fulfilling things you can do in life. Apart from having kids… but that’s on my bucket list. I’m only 21 after all.
I was one of the youngest ever BBEs and this in itself brought challenges. More so that I was one of two girls in the class of 15 guys – most of whom were older than me. The business world is dominated by mature males, but there’s something so powerful about popping a dove among the pigeons.
My advice to someone in a similar situation or generally just feeling out of place is use this to your advantage. Outcasts thrive because they go against the grain. Just think of the ‘in person or trend’ as an annoying little sibling, because in the end – that’s what they all turn into. Be the next big thing. Pre-empt and repeat. Don’t let the small things hold you back and take a chance when you see it, you never know where it may take you.
That’s what I did two years ago, and I did okay. I came out with a 2:1 BSc Hons degree in Business Enterprise, a thriving eco-business, a brilliant mentor and set of contacts I will have for life. I won an entrepreneurship prize, I have more clarity in my thinking, it made me have so much more respect for business and I now understand accounting – something for someone who sucked at maths at school and I’m really proud of that and all in two years people!
The rest is yet to be written, and you know what, I can’t wait to read the next chapter.
Gary Higson (British)
Gary Higson graduated from Buckingham with a BSc. He loves to innovate and is now putting it in to good practice as a Project Manager at Xen Consultants, experts in B2B Telemarketing http://xenconsultants.co.uk.
Since becoming a BBE graduate in March 2015 I have successfully been employed in the Digital Marketing field and I believe that the BBE programme had a lot to do with my success. Over the 2 years it taught me how to balance and manage my workload including running a business but also preparing for exams etc, as a result I believe these skills have stood me in good stead to enable my success in the workplace. The knowledge that I gained in my time at Uni has help me along the way as I have a greater understanding of the entire business and not just the department I work in which I believe is a very important factor.
I believe that having the BBE programme on my CV was great, in terms of standing out from the thousands of other undergraduates searching for that one job. The BBE programme allowed me to add on to my existing business skills which came from running an online chocolate business: www.bacichocolate.co.uk.
Overall deciding to join the BBE programme was definitely the best decision I have made as I met lots of friendly people who I might not have met elsewhere, and the skills and knowledge I have acquired from my time are now allowing me to plan for another future business down the line. I would absolutely recommend the Business Enterprise Degree to anyone who is looking to have a future in business and at the same time is looking for something different and unique.
After 2 years studying on the BBE course, I’ve learned lots of things, not only from the textbooks, but also from the experience of running a business. It’s really helpful for my future entrepreneur journey. I’ve loved doing business since I was a kid. This course is amazing, but if you’re not interested in business at all, or you think you will make lots of money as soon as you graduate, I will not suggest you join this course, because you will be disappointed! I’m running my company in China right now. I have to say, the entrepreneur journey is a long and tough journey, be prepared for it!
