Lancaster University: LUMS student wins opportunity to spend day with BBC Dragon’s Den star
A student from Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) has won a day with Social Chain founder and BBC Dragon’s Den star, Steven Bartlett, after being part of the winning team at this year’s Two+Two event.
On 18 March, 200 marketing students from more than 16 universities got together at the Two+Two event, to work alongside industry mentors from creative agencies on a live client brief as part of a unique competition.
This year’s challenge focused on ‘data for good’ and sustainability in transport and was set by headline sponsor Wejo, a Manchester-based connected vehicle data software solutions provider.
The winning team comprised of LUMS’ first year student Ashwini Kelkar; Taylor Orford from Leeds Arts University; Rory O’Moore from Manchester Metropolitan University; Jiaqi (Veronica) Rong from the University of Central Lancashire; and Olivia Duff from the University of Leeds.
As winners, they are set to spend valuable time with the Dragons Den investor and will also have their final ideas displayed on the second largest digital billboard in Europe – the Victoria Warehouse in Salford Quays.
The team who came in second place won a mentorship with Havas Lynx, while third place winners – who included Ryan Yates from LUMS – receive placements with Zeal Creative. Altogether LUMS was represented in 4 of the 5 teams into the final, with fourth year student Luke Green and second year Ausrine Kudirkaite also part of the teams pitching to the judges.
Vicky Metcalf, Careers Coach in the department of Marketing at Lancaster University Management School said: “Twenty-two students from LUMS took part this year in what was the first major in-person, off-campus event for most of our students since recent lock-downs. Coming away with 4 finalists and 3 gongs is an amazing achievement. I am incredibly proud of each student who took part this year; studying and finding work experience during Covid times has been incredibly tough, but they all managed to step out of their comfort zones and step up to the plate to be counted!”
Julie Ollerton, managing director at Creative Resource, said: “It was great to have Two+Two back as an in-person event once again. This year’s students were set a challenging brief by Wejo, and the quality of the creative ideas was of a high standard that blew the judges away. I’m confident we’ll see the names and faces of this year’s winners at the front of the industry in the near future.”
Julian Gratton, senior vice president brand, marketing, and content at Wejo, said: “Throughout Two + Two we witnessed outstanding collaboration between students and professionals. The creative ideas and pitches amazed us with their intelligent and creative approaches and the students embraced our Smart Mobility for Good ™ positioning. The winning team got to the heart of the human benefits that Wejo can deliver now and in the future. There are some smart strategic minds and great creative thinkers coming through the participating Universities.”
The event, organised by Manchester-based marketing and creative recruitment agency, Creative Resource, is now in its fifth year. As well as attracting students from marketing, advertising, and creative courses, as well as those wishing to work in the industry, more than 25 creative and marketing agencies took part.