Pulse - Issue 15

PULSE News and opinion from Liverpool Hope Business School July 2022 | Issue 15

RECOGNISING SUCCESS AND UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

Toasting success

Student Service Awards

The Spirit of Hope

Insight to Business Awards return

Getting ahead with placements

Award winner shares his story

News and opinion from Liverpool Hope Business School July 2022 | Issue 15

WELCOME TO PULSE At this point in the academic year, we’re able to reflect on the successes of our students and celebrate their achievements as we prepare for summer graduations. In this issue, our students take centre stage at the Insight to Business Awards (page four). It was fantastic to once again host the awards’ dinner on campus and bring together some of our best performing students and our corporate partners.

Read about one of our award winners – Business Management student Oscar Wainwright – on page six. Oscar received the Professor Jim Keaton Award for his curiosity, determination and dedication to his studies over the past three years. We also hear from alumna Charlotte Price (page five) on how the Insight to Business Awards set her on a path to success.

As a School, we recognise the value and importance of work experience in helping students get ahead as they prepare to take the first step in their careers. As such, we have expanded on our placement programme and launched the Student Service Awards. Find out how students from across the University were given mentoring and hands-on training opportunities through the new scheme on page eight.

Elsewhere, we were thrilled to welcome students from the USA to the School, as they joined us for our inaugural Maymester programme on the Business of Football (page seven). We also welcomed two new academic staff members, who introduce themselves on page 10, and local MPs and councillors joined us on campus at a special research networking event (page three).

I hope you enjoy this issue, and have a great summer.

Ian McKenna Associate Dean of the Business School

IN THIS ISSUE 3

Sustainability project showcased

7

Football in focus

4

Toasting to success

8

Student Service Awards

6

The spirit of Hope

10

Introducing

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NEWS IN BRIEF Wall mural unveiled

The Business School’s breakout space ‘The Hub’ has been given a new lease of life thanks to a large wall mural designed by one the University’s Graphic Design students.

Niamh Nelson was the winner of a competition to design a piece of wall art that reflected the purpose of the social learning space.

Following discussions with Senior Professional Tutor Mark Wood, who leads the Graphic Design programme, the competition was incorporated into the second-year curriculum as a live design brief.

Students presented their initial ideas and sketches, and received constructive feedback before their final pitch to a panel of academics, students and the University’s own inhouse Senior Graphic Designer.

Niamh described how she considered what her peers in the Business School would want to see when opting for a ‘bright, playful and illustrative’ design.

She added: “It feels very exciting to have my work on display at the University. It gives me confidence in myself to know one of my designs was chosen to be displayed here - it’s a great feeling.”

The art installation now has pride of place in the bespoke student learning resource room.

SPOTLIGHT

Brewing-up change, baking-in sustainability An innovative scheme to transform brewery waste into food captured the eye of MP Bill Esterson, leading to a collaboration between the Shadow Minister and the Business School’s Dr Tony Bradley.

One of the most critical issues facing the global economy is the transition to a low carbon cycle of production and consumption. But, the pace of change is woefully inadequate.

Brewer’s Spent Grain is the residual of cereals, usually barley and wheat, that is left over after the fermentation process. Usually, it’s disposed of as animal feed or, even, sent to landfill.

In April, the scientific community delivered a bleak outlook on the capacity of global leaders to step-up to the challenge. A report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its starkest warning yet about the dangers of current levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

However, it’s rich in nutrients, antioxidants and minerals that can enhance a nutritious diet. On this basis, we have been experimenting with its use in the manufacturing of bread, brownies and other baked products. The Business School has also been creating a new brand for these products.

But at Liverpool Hope, we are seeking to point the way to reversing the vicious cycle of industrial pollution and over-consumption through a new micro-project.

At a recent event showcasing University research to local MPs and Councillors, the Brewer’s Spent Grain initiative caught the attention of Bill Esterson MP (Sefton Central), who is the Labour opposition spokesperson for Business and Industrial Strategy.

A crucial part of meeting the challenge to reduce GHG emissions is to engage in circular economy production.

This means, instead of a model of ‘extract, manufacture, use and throw away’, we factor in the afterlife of waste from the start.

The cycle then becomes one of ‘design, deploy, use, recycle, repurpose’, so that waste is increasingly eliminated, as upcycling means it becomes the material for the next cycle of production.

Working in collaboration, the School of Health and Sports Science, and the Business School are partnering with local micro-breweries in Merseyside to take a crucial waste product of the brewing process and turn it into a key resource for the baking industry.

He said: “In my role as Shadow Minister, I’m keen to work with Business Schools, and Hope’s Circular Economy project is of particular interest. I believe we have to support, champion and encourage University education, as if we want a high-skill, high-wage economy, we need to ensure there are people who meet these skill sets.”

As a result, he has invited Revd Dr Tony Bradley to work with him in the development of a circular economy strategy for Merseyside and nationally. The aim is to see the cycle of waste, carbon emissions and climate change set into reverse. This will create a Green New Deal, for jobs, the revitalisation of industry, and the mitigation of climate change and biodiversity loss.

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STUDENT SUCCESS

Toasting to success

The Insight to Business Awards saw 18 students presented with CV-enhancing placements.

After a gap of two years, we were finally able to once again hold the annual Insight to Business Awards live on campus. The dinner event, which is the culmination of the programme, featured an evening of celebration and networking for some of the Business School’s brightest stars.

Nearly 90 guests attended, including corporate guests, the Vice-Chancellor, Business School tutors, senior colleagues from around the University, corporate partners who supported the programme by offering placement opportunities, and of course the shortlisted students.

This year, 13 companies were involved in the programme, 10 who have been involved in the past, and three new companies that we were delighted to welcome to the programme.

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One of the highlights of the evening was the unexpected addition of an extra award from four of the companies attending, which meant 18 students gained placement opportunities in total.

STUDENT SUCCESS A special award was offered in memory of Professor Jim Keaton, the immediate past Chairman of the Business School Executive Advisory Board.

From award winner to career climber While this year’s Insight to Business Awards’ winners are beginning their internships, Pulse caught up with a previous winner to find out what impact her placement had on her early career progression.

The award was presented by the current Chairman Steve Stuart to Oscar Wainwright, a third year Business Management student, who has demonstrated a high level of engagement and commitment to the Business School. Pulse caught up with Oscar to find out more about his University experience and future plans – see page six.

Charlotte Price graduated from Liverpool Hope in 2020 with a first-class degree in Business Management and Marketing. She works as a Marketing Executive for Aspira Aerials Applications Ltd, a drone and coatings company based in Manchester.

In her penultimate year, she won the Everton Football Club/Everton in the Community Award and spent three weeks working with the company. She was tasked with undertaking a marketing review of their website, and a competitor audit and analysis to help the organisation make key improvements to their operations.

Charlotte loved her placement experience, stating: “It was a really enjoyable experience. The atmosphere in the workplace was great and colleagues were really friendly and made me feel part of the team. I’m still in contact with many of them two years later.”

Asked whether her three-week experience at the organisation helped to position her for her current role, Charlotte had no hesitation in confirming that this was the case.

She said: “My employer told me after I’d been recruited that it was my experience at Everton in the Community that had swayed their decision to take a chance on me.

As Pulse goes to press, the participating companies are already contacting their award winners to arrange the placements. We look forward to hearing about their experiences in our next issue.

“They saw that I had delivered real results and had been able to apply the skills developed on my course in a real-life situation. I’m so glad that I took part in the Insight Awards programme.”

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STUDENT CASE STUDY

The spirit of Hope Business Management student Oscar Wainwright’s passion and drive made him the obvious choice for the inaugural Professor Jim Keaton Award.

The Business School, along with the rest of the Hope community, was saddened to hear of the recent death of one our great friends and supporters Professor James (Jim) Keaton.

Jim was the founding chair of the Business School’s Advisory Board and was a great advocate for our School and especially our students. As such, we thought it would be fitting to establish an annual Insight to Business Award in his memory.

The Professor Jim Keaton Award recognises a student who has displayed curiosity, determination and dedication in their studies during their three years at Hope’s Business School. It also aims to provide support to a student seeking to pursue an ambitious career path after graduation.

and already has plans to follow that up with a PhD, before hopefully embarking on a career in academia.

Talking about his time in the Business School, Oscar said: “During my first year, I took a particular interest in international business and globalisation, thanks to the debates linked to political systems and sustainability.

“One of my lecturers at this time, Dr Ilva Navarro Bateman, encouraged my curiosity and assisted me in developing an understanding of the subject and familiarity with the literature around it.

“In second year, my concerns with sustainability became substantially larger, and I enjoyed debating with colleagues in tutorials around the subject and the actions that should be taken towards this.

This year, the award went to Oscar Wainwright, a Business Management student who really embraced the Hope experience in a manner in which Jim would have thoroughly approved.

“My interest in understanding how international business practice was impacted by sustainability and the systems that had been implemented, led to my decision to apply for a Masters in International Business.

By his own admission, Oscar took a little time to adjust to student life, but he soon decided within his first term that he should take advantage of the many opportunities that were on offer and challenge himself.

“I also applied for a scholarship while at Hope, to work with Dr Asad Ghalib on a project looking at the concept of a social well-being index.

He joined trips to Lille and Ghent to participate in an International Business Game, and embraced the chance to represent the student voice as a Student Ambassador at Open and Applicant Days.

Oscar recently won a much sought-after scholarship to study for a Master’s degree at Warwick Business School

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“Outside of my studies, I chose to help at Open Days during my third year, to help assist people in making the right University choices by passing on the knowledge I’d learned during my time at Hope. I also worked as the president of the Islamic Society and helped raise money for charity.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Nurturing curiosity Remaining curious throughout life, study and work is at the forefront of the Business School’s ethos.

The Business School at Liverpool Hope embraces curious minds. We want our academics, students and alumni to explore, to be inquisitive, to challenge the status quo and to make a difference in the world.

When young children start to be curious and to explore their boundaries, this is rightly seen as a reason for celebration. It is absolutely accepted that this helps them to understand the wonders of life, and recognises that the power of their imagination and curiosity can - and does - transform the world around them.

It helps them to learn and to grow. Yet, as we grow older and ‘wiser’, this sense of curiosity is often blunted, sometimes by others, often because of our own lack of confidence and a desire to conform and be seen to be conforming.

This is despite growing evidence (and a dose of common sense) that shows the longer we can remain curious, the greater the chances of personal and societal enlightenment. For example, Kashdan, Rose and Fincham (2014) found that the degree to which people are curious actively influences their personal growth opportunities, and even the level of intimacy that develops when they meet someone new.

There is also an increasing body of research that indicates when a business promotes curiosity as an integral part of their company culture, they tend to see real business benefits.

For example, a study by Gino (2018) published in the Harvard Business Review, found that high levels of curiosity in the workplace are related to better solutions to company problems, enhanced relationships between employees, decreased levels of stress, and increased job performance. Sweeney (2021) reinforces this by stating that growth and comfort cannot coexist, and the surest way to growth is through curiosity.

Here at the Business School we want businesses to recognise us as the home of curious minds – where preconceptions are challenged and solutions are created.

Football in focus

US students explored the world of Premier League Football during a study abroad programme in the Business School.

In the same week in May that the football season ended, the Business School played host to a group of students from across the USA, as it launched its inaugural Maymester programme: The Business of Soccer.

After taking in Everton’s great escape from relegation at Goodison Park and following a tour of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium, the Americans joined Business School tutors and students to discuss the effect of television rights, the internet, social media and globalisation on the economics and operations of the beautiful game.

They also considered how the typical spectator has changed since the pre-Premier League days when the cost of a ticket to the match was about an hour’s pay for a working man or woman.

And, when the proliferation of the executive box, corporate hospitality and the “prawn sandwich brigade”, were just glints in the eye of the football club owners.

A real highlight of the programme came when final year Accounting & Finance and Business Management student Kieran Bradley shared the findings of his dissertation, which looked at the effect of Covid-19 on the finances of Premier League Clubs.

Kieran said: “It was a great opportunity to talk to an international audience of likeminded students about something I’m really interested in and passionate about.

“It will also look great on my CV for when I talk to potential employers.”

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FEATURE

Student Service Awards Paid bursaries provided valuable work experience opportunities for students from across the University.

The Business School offered students from across the University the opportunity to apply for a number of Student Service Awards.

These paid bursaries took place between February and May 2022, and were designed to provide work experience and mentoring, as well as adding value to the School’s overall strategy.

Key targets included creating a focus on recruitment and retention, the student experience, enhancing business links, furthering research on the external business school market, and live data input on the School’s Greening Markets research project.

The School advertised, interviewed and appointed six students from a mixture of its own course programmes, as well as other academic disciplines.

Successful applicants were given training and opportunities to develop their skills through one-toone mentoring from their project supervisor. They also undertook a training programme covering core elements of the programmes, including additional project-specific sessions.

These covered areas such as: • Health and Safety • Social media management • Effective communication and interviewing • Effective writing • Marketing research • Project management • IT skills/Use of Google docs and forms • Mentoring and regular one-to-one supervision by the project lead • Opportunities to work with Business School colleagues

Award winners Social Media/Alumni Award Libby Duggan, third year History and Psychology Project Supervisor: Lyndsey Burkert, Business Engagement & Employability Manager 8 | PULSE Magazine

Purpose: This role focused on supporting the School’s aim to develop more sustainable links with its alumni base and through this, positively affect student recruitment.

Project overview: To proactively coordinate our LinkedIn content and presence, to enable better engagement with our alumni.

PR and Events Coordinator Award Joshua Edwards, second year Business Management and Economics Project Supervisor: Brian Ricketts, Assistant Head of School Purpose: To support the School’s plans to enhance the student experience by increasing the number of employer events, guest lectures, industry weeks, the Insight to Business Awards, and sustainability events for small to medium-sized enterprises.

Project overview: Working on the administration and coordination of events liaising with guest speakers/ visitors and internal colleagues in catering, campus services, design and reprographics, etc.

Student Voice Advocate Award Charlotte Morris, first year Business Management and Law Project Supervisor: Dr Atif Sarwar, Lecturer in Business Management Purpose: To support the School’s plans to enhance the student experience by ensuring the Student Voice is heard and responded to.

Project overview: To work with the Student Voice Coordinator and course reps to ensure that staff-student dialogue is optimised, and develop ongoing projects and event management skills.

FEATURE Market Research Award Simon Burki, second year Accountancy & Finance Project Supervisor: Ian Mckenna, Head of School

Key findings At the end of the bursary period, students were put through their paces and tasked with delivering a live 10-minute presentation to colleagues from across the Business School.

Purpose: To support the School’s plans to improve our communications, recruitment and conversion activities.

This was extremely beneficial, as the students got to develop their communications skills through both writing and delivering a final presentation.

Project overview: To undertake desk research into how benchmark competitor business schools promote their offerings through their websites, marketing collateral and events such as Open/Applicant Days.

It also proved a great way to showcase insights into all the projects that had taken place across the Business School and the transformative outcomes of each.

Sustainability Research Assistant Award Charles James-Turne, second year Music Production and Philosophy & Ethics Project Supervisors: Rev Dr Tony Bradley and Dr Curtis Ziniel, Senior Lecturers in Business Management Purpose: This was to support the School’s plans to position itself as a key voice in the conversation about the road from COP26.

Project overview: To provide data entry and basic research assistance for the School’s Greening Markets Research Group.

Building a Community in the Business School & Student Engagement Research Assistant Award Ellah Ovie-Bateman, second year Business Management Project Supervisor: Jo Whittingham, Assistant Head of School Purpose: In the Business School, all of our students and colleagues are welcome and belong, however, we wanted to know if there was more we could do to review and enhance the sense of community.

Project overview: To research student’s perceptions of belonging and community across the School and highlight areas of improvement.

Joshua presenting key findings and next steps for the School.

We took advantage of using the designated student Hub as a delivery space, as we wanted to put the students at ease in a space they were familiar and comfortable with.

This was a fantastic way to get some key takeaways and findings from each student’s research project as next steps for the Business School. It then gave us an opportunity to celebrate and thank the students for their hard work and input into the projects between February and May 2022.

As a School, we felt these projects were invaluable; they added to both the development of each individual student winner, providing them with highly transferable skills in addition to their degree studies. With the additional benefit for the Business School of gaining insight and knowledge sharing from the projects that were undertaken. This gives both the Head of School and wider staff an understanding of how we can engage and support our students moving forward.

We would like to say thank you to Libby, Simon, Josh, Charlotte, Ellah and Charles for their hard work and commitment to these projects. It was a pleasure working with you!

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IN PROFILE

INTRODUCING Pulse caught up with two new staff members - Dr Emad Tariq, Lecturer in Digital and Social Media Marketing, and Dr Muhammad Sanusi, Lecturer in Accounting.

Emad Tariq I obtained my PhD in Digital Marketing from the University of Huddersfield.

Previously, I obtained my MScBA from Erasmus University, Rotterdam School of Management, as well as a BA degree in Economics and Business Management from the University of Amsterdam.

As a lecturer during the past five years, I taught various Marketing modules to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Huddersfield. In addition, I spent the previous two years teaching Marketing at InHolland University for Applied Sciences.

Practically, I worked as a Sales and Marketing Manager for 17 years, obtaining experience in different international sectors, such as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Oil and Gas, and Advertising and Marketing within large multinational corporations.

Dr Muhammad Sanusi I was a Senior Lecturer in Finance at Birmingham City University before joining Liverpool Hope, and I’m also a qualified professional accountant as a Fellow under the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

I completed my PhD in Finance at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, studying market efficiency, volatility behaviour and asset pricing analysis.

I’m a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a qualified chartered securities and investment

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My research interests include digital marketing and social media marketing, influencer marketing, sales management and CRM, cross functional coordination and consumer behaviour, internal marketing, cybersecurity/IoT and marketing.

In addition, I have published two studies about digital marketing, CSR and green environment, which was successfully published in Q1 Scopus journals. The next publication focuses on developing internal marketing and employees’ capabilities depending on the influence of social network sites, with a moderator’s effect of employees’ engagement and knowledge sharing among others.

I joined Liverpool Hope University with a passion to support the Business School in delivering high quality programmes beyond education standards. My aim is to support students to develop a range of knowledge, skills and attributes, which will enable them to build a successful employment path.

I believe the combination of my academic and practical experience will add a core value to Liverpool Hope Business School.

analyst as a chartered member under the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI).

I’ve been an external examiner and a consultant for many companies, universities and professional bodies over the years, and presented several papers at various finance conferences around the world.

I’ve also published research articles in peer-reviewed journals, and my interest covers the areas of financial market operations, stock market volatility, asset pricing analysis, financial reporting, financial time series analysis, event studies and at large, financial econometrics.

THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

ABOUT US: LIVERPOOL HOPE BUSINESS SCHOOL The Business School curriculum is cutting-edge with all teaching research-informed and delivered by staff with both professional and practical backgrounds. A high number of staff have PhDs, while several members of the School have run successful businesses. This means the School is highly qualified at an academic, professional and experiential level, to engage in research that connects with the business sector.

The School works closely with accreditation bodies and is a member of various professional networks.

These include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Professional Liverpool.

With strong links to a range of leading local and national companies, professional bodies and organisations, and a range of innovative ethical and social enterprises, the School has a reputation for developing students with sound theoretical principles and a thorough understanding of contemporary business practices. Guest lecturers and practitioner input allows students the opportunity to visit companies, study abroad and work via Young Enterprise to develop and run their own business.

WHO WE WORK WITH:

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To find out more please visit: www.hope.ac.uk/businessschool

Pulse is published by Liverpool Hope Business School, Hope Park, L16 9JD.

T: 0151 291 3087 E: businessschool@hope.ac.uk

The views expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Liverpool Hope University.

LiverpoolHopeUniversity @LiverpoolHopeUK