University of Southampton Business School students have won first place a national competition in which they were tasked with running their own company.
The Universities Business Challenge Global Masters brings together postgraduate students from universities across the UK to compete in a complex business simulation.
The two University of Southampton teams achieved both first and third place out of 14 finalists. It makes the University is the first to win the Masters competition twice - having previously triumphed in 2023.
The competition has been running since January. The wining students were tasked with managing a simulated company called Solar Power Systems (SPS), with the strategic objective of bringing affordable solar power to every community in the developing world within 15 years.
The team of five acted as the board of directors, making strategic business decisions across areas such as finance, operations, marketing and staffing to improve company performance. They were supported by business mentor David Smallman.
Throughout the competition, teams receive changing business scenarios and market conditions which impact company performance. Students compete in virtual markets against teams from universities across the UK, aiming to maximise profit, grow market share and improve stakeholder ratings.
The top-performing teams were then invited to compete in the in-person final, which was held at the University of Liverpool.
There, teams were challenged to create an entirely new business concept from scratch. This year's brief required teams to develop a luxury fragrance company. Students completed various tasks including creating a marketing campaign, developing their business strategy, and presenting their ideas to judges.
Narinthip Setthapanpanich, who led the winning team, said: "We are delighted and honoured to have brought the trophy home. If you ask what made the difference, it was our teamwork. The trust and relationship we built over five weeks really showed in the finals.
"I'm also very grateful to my team, as well as for the support and guidance from our mentor and the university team throughout the journey."
The competition is designed to replicate real-world business decision-making and develops skills including teamwork, leadership, analytical thinking, communication and strategic planning.
Professor Laura Costanzo, Dean of University of Southampton Business School, said: "This is an outstanding achievement for our students and for the University of Southampton Business School . To have two teams reach the final and secure both first and third place in such a competitive national competition is a testament to their talent, professionalism, and dedication.
"Winning the UBC Global Masters competition for a second time, and becoming the first university to do so, also reflects the strength of the experiential learning and employability opportunities we provide within USBS through our dedicated support. We are immensely proud of all the students involved."
