Pictured above: Gavin Hitchcock, head of Information
Communications Technology (ICT), and Shirley Walker, senior
lecturer, with Masters students from Nottingham Business
School
University students have been developing their management
expertise in partnership with a regional housing group.
Students studying for their Masters in Business Management at
Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University,
joined forces with Futures Housing Group to complete two
consultancy-style projects.
The projects saw the post-graduate students give advice on
setting up a new service company, as well as make best use of new
and emerging technology to help the affordable housing provider's
customers.
Briefs for both pieces of work were given by teams at Futures
Housing Group before the students set to work on research and
delivery of their findings in a final presentation at the housing
group's head office in Ripley.
It is the first time Futures Housing Group, which provides
around 8,600 affordable homes across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire
and Northamptonshire, has worked with Nottingham Trent
University.
Lindsey Williams, chief executive of Futures Housing Group,
said: "We are delighted to have been able to work in partnership
with the university on these projects. The partnership has provided
tangible benefits to both parties. The students' research has
provided us with information which will help to shape the future of
our business while also giving them experience of working on real
scenarios.
"We were impressed with the students' commitment and enthusiasm
and look forward to working together on future projects."
Shirley Walker, senior lecturer at Nottingham Business School,
said: "This was an extremely challenging and vital project for
students who worked closely with the Futures Housing Group senior
management team. Industry and university partnerships are vital as
they provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge
and to gain the practical and real-life experience they need in
employment, as well as benefiting the organisations which invite
them in. We are hoping to repeat this process and engage in other
possible projects and connections with Futures Housing Group."