Providing new fundraising initiatives
The Winter Market: Enterprise in Action.
As part of the Elevate Programme's How to Do Business module, undergraduate students took part in a new Winter Market, an exciting hands-on entrepreneurial experience designed to be an active learning opportunity. We believe that students should apply their academic theory through learning by doing.
Working in teams, 190 students participated in a festive enterprise challenge, running 37 stalls across the Cambridge and Chelmsford campuses. Given a budget, students were tasked with developing, pitching, marketing, and selling their own products and services. Initiatives ranged from henna tattoos, bake sales, scented candles, photo booths, mystery seasonal bags, and cleaning services to basketball hoop challenges and other interactive games. The project encouraged creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial thinking, while raising funds for local charitable causes selected by the students.
Daniel Berger - Deputy Dean (Education)
The Winter Market provided a unique opportunity for students to apply the theories and frameworks learnt through the Elevate 1: How to Do Business module in a live business environment. Designed to bring classroom learning to life from the very first weeks of university, the module challenges students to develop innovative products and services, supported by Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs), who provide guidance, mentorship, and real-world insights to help students refine their ideas and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. From identifying a target audience and understanding customer needs to developing a competitive advantage and creating effective sales strategies, students experienced every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
A key element of the project involved preparing and delivering a professional business pitch, where teams presented their product ideas and marketing plans. Students then put these ideas into action, engaging directly with customers, promoting their products, and adapting their approach based on real-time feedback.
Throughout the event, participants developed a wide range of transferable skills, including:
- Customer engagement and relationship building
- Communication and presentation skills
- Sales and marketing techniques
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and adaptability
- Entrepreneurial thinking and innovation
- Understanding target markets and competitive positioning
The Winter Market demonstrates the value of experiential learning, giving students the confidence, skills, and practical knowledge needed to succeed in today's business world. By combining entrepreneurship with community impact, the event showcased how innovative ideas can create both commercial success and positive social change. For many, seeing their ideas transform from a concept into a product that customers were willing to purchase was one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme.