City College Norwich business students aiming to come up with next big idea in camera retail
Students on the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy business with enterprise course at City College Norwich are hoping that their innovative product and service ideas for Jessops and Canon will impress bosses and be turned into reality in high street stores.
Twenty two students, working in four teams, have embarked on this exciting business challenge, which has been set by the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA), Jessops and Canon.
Students from the PJEA network nationwide have been tasked with identifying and proposing viable and innovative new business opportunities for developing photographic products and services to existing customers and recruiting new customers.
The City College Norwich students have already begun conducting market research activities and have until mid-November to complete a team PowerPoint presentation to highlight their business proposals and solutions, along with a promotional and advertising campaign and short team video.
Business with Enterprise PJEA student Tate Parry, 16, from Norwich, said: “Now we’ve got our group idea we’ve really started to enjoy the challenge. I think we’re onto a winner with our new product idea!”
Fellow team member Rand Hassan, 17, from Clover Hill, added: “Doing this challenge does make you think and opens your eyes to the process of developing a product. Our market research showed that the camera price is a big issue for customers, so this will be a key focus for us.”
The competition is open to colleges in the PJEA network and the Jessops and Canon judging panel will nominate the best two submissions, who will each be invited to Canon’s European HQ offices in Reigate, to meet members of the Jessops and Canon management team.
Barry Nash, National Business Enterprise Manager at the Peter Jones Foundation said: “I believe this challenge will be a great opportunity for our Academy students to participate in an exciting and fast moving retail environment, where they will be able to identify and research some real commercial challenges. In addition, the students will be able to recommend some ‘real life’ business solutions, which will be presented to the Jessops and Canon management team in a winner’s final.”
Barry continued: “Jessops and Canon have kindly sponsored some fantastic camera prizes for the two teams who make the finals. This is a brilliant opportunity for our Academy students to shine and impress two of the UK’s leading camera specialists.”
Helen Coen, Head of Hardware at Jessops said: “We are thrilled to work alongside Canon and the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy for this year’s Challenge. I am excited to see the ideas that the students present to solve a real life business challenge. It will no doubt test their creative thinking!”