SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) Bath, a team of highly enthusiastic and motivated individuals impressed judges with their project portfolio at the National Competition in Canary Warf, London on the 23rd of April this year. They reached the final round, seeing off stiff competition from 28 other universities. They were also rewarded for their principled approach to business with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Business Ethics Award which earnt £500 towards future project development.
Launched in 2006, SIFE Bath has one aim in mind to help communities both locally and internationally by creating sustainable economic opportunity. They do this by passing on knowledge to communities in the following areas: Market Economics, Personal Success Skills, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Business Ethics and Environmental Sustainability. Their projects include a trade link with a women’s welfare charity in Bolivia which allows them to sell their crafts in Bath, and working with a local school to help pupils to set up their own business. The team chooses for themselves which communities they would like to work with and they receive support and advice from local business mentors and corporate partners such as HSBC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Deloitte.
Since its creation the team has bonded both professionally and socially driven by their passion to make a meaningful difference. At the 2007 National Competition the team won; Rookie of the Year and Spirit of Enterprise and in 2008, as well as this year they reached the final four in the National Competition. This competition allows students to showcase their projects as well as to network with corporate executives of FTSE 100 companies and SIFE sponsors opening up future possibilities for graduates.
The winning team, Kings College London, will now go forward to represent the UK in the SIFE World Cup, where it will compete against the National Champion teams from all other SIFE countries. The SIFE Bath team are now going to Berlin to compete in ‘The Berlin Challenge’ with the final three runners up of the German teams in October 2009.
“The SIFE experience has been one of the most valuable parts of my university life. I have had the opportunity to make a real difference and would encourage any student to get involved!” Alexa Bellingham, final year languages student, Project leader for Esperanza Economica.