Inaugural Student Enterprise Forum Takes Place at Stamford Bridge

Almost 50 students and alumni of St Mary’s University, Twickenham attended the inaugural Student Enterprise Forum at Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge.

The event, which was arranged by St Mary’s and Chelsea Foundation, brought together business and sport and allowed students the opportunity to use their creative ideas and skills to take on a series on group activities and problem-solving challenges.

Students got to hear from industry experts including Enterprise & Employability Manager at Chelsea Foundation Carl Southwell and Stadium Tours & Museum Manager at Chelsea FC and St Mary’s alumnus Adam Burrage.

Industry experts spoke to the students about the latest ideas of embedding technology and information systems in Chelsea’s revamped stadium while explaining the challenges of sustaining community links, partnerships and projects during the club’s temporary relocation.

The students were tasked with creating an app that would improve match day experience for fans and customers visiting Stamford Bridge while also creating extra revenue for the club.

The project came about through a collaboration between Chelsea Foundation and University departments Careers and the schools of Management and Social Sciences and Sport, Health and Applied Science.

Academic Director for Sport at St Mary’s Dr Abbe Brady said, “It was great to see so many students at this event, the first time we have ran it. It gave them a chance to contribute to a real-world contemporary project, learn from Chelsea Foundation enterprise specialists and get fantastic experience on how to develop their own business idea.”

Enterprise and Employability Manager at Chelsea Foundation Carl Southwell said, “Our Foundation’s Delta Air Lines Edge of the Box Club is proving to be a great vehicle to reach different groups of people or different themes of business. This event saw St Mary’s Students practising the essential modern work skills of problem solving, presenting and creativity through the Smart Stadium challenge that was set.

“We were also learning from the students and have invited the winning team back to our full Smart Stadia Hack in April.”