A team of four undergraduate students from Sheffield University Management School, Jake Ijima (Business Management), Joel Manesh (Accounting and Financial Management), Yasith Gedara (Accounting and Financial Management) and Ahmed Alyafeai (Accounting and Financial Management), finished in fifth place at the annual Universities Business Challenge. The team were delighted with the result and the opportunities to gain valuable skills and experience to help in their future careers along the way.
The Universities Business Challenge (UBC) is the premier simulation-based undergraduate business competition open to all UK universities. For the past 23 years, UBC has offered undergraduates the opportunity to improve their knowledge of the business world, develop their employability skills, meet potential employers and enhance their CV - all whilst having a lot of fun and potentially winning prizes.
Joel, Accounting and Financial Management student, reflected “Participating in UBC has been the highlight of my time at university and was an eye-opening experience in regards to working as a team and running a business. Above all, the aspect I enjoyed the most was the fun I had with my teammates and being constantly challenged to refine your strategy. I developed key strengths that would prove essential for my future career, including the ability to communicate my ideas clearly and make decisions under pressure.”
Yasith, Accounting and Financial Management student, said “UBC was a well-rounded competition that allowed me to fully put my education into practice, particularly as I had to analyse competitor university balance sheets, perform costing, manage JIT inventory and make competition pricing decisions in as little as 15 minutes under pressure. I also significantly improved my time management and networking skills as I got to associate with other students.”
Ahmed, Accounting and Financial Management student, added “I have gained valuable knowledge from this competition, further developing my analytical skills, teamwork and networking skills. I hope I can implement these skills in my professional career.”
Jake, Business Management student shared “From developing advertising campaigns for a juice company to pitching our learnings from the process through a ‘4th wall-breaking' presentation, I have grown both creatively and professionally through this competition- It has been an unforgettable experience! In particular, the interpersonal skills acquired through working with such diverse and ambitious team members is something I will treasure from the process, as it is becoming an increasingly important and necessary trait in the future of management."
“I would like to express heartfelt felicitations to our Sheffield University Management School undergraduates Ahmed, Joel, Yasith and Jake for their remarkable achievement at the UBC Worldwide final in Southampton. The students showcased impressive skills in applying their practical business skills, teamwork and networking abilities. Congratulations also to Liz Taylor, our dedicated Management School’s Skills Advisor, who supported the team every step of the way.”
Dr Melanie Hassett,
Interim Associate Dean for Education
The Universities Business Challenge takes place annually and is open to undergraduate students on all of our courses.