Deloitte Challenges the Birmingham MBA

Now in its sixth year, the Deloitte Consultancy Challenge offers a unique experience to MBA students at the Birmingham Business School. Originally conceived by Jane Lodge, a former Deloitte partner and long-term Advisory Board member, the week-long programme provides an excellent opportunity for MBA students to gain valuable experience in consulting and operating at Board level.

The programme, which is organised by the School’s Corporate Relations Manager Andrew Miles, ran during the last week of April. Staff from Deloitte’s Professional Services team delivered specialist consultancy training at the Business School and interacted with students through simulated Board sessions, client briefings and solution based presentations.

Students also worked closely with the Business School’s Technology and Innovation for Learning Team (TILT) to develop a mockumentary to launch the Challenge scenario which is based around the acquisition of a major group of brands by an established firm in the food and beverages sector. They also produced a series of filmed interviews with senior Deloitte staff, including two senior partners, expanding upon consultancy techniques in scoping and planning and building upon their own credentials as consultants.

The end of the week culminated in a series of presentations given by the MBA students to a combination of Business School Advisory Board members and Deloitte professionals, which this year included Chris Loughran, Vice Chair of Deloitte UK. Not only did this give the MBA students an unprecedented networking opportunity and the opportunity to learn from the top, it also demonstrated the significance Deloitte attaches to their programme and their confidence in the Birmingham MBA.

For students, the Deloitte week is the highlight of the MBA programme. Adhi Wibowo, one of this year’s participants, stated, “It was a really amazing experience to feel the atmosphere of being a consultant. The scenario felt real and challenging, enabling us to gain really useful knowledge within a week. The feedback was very insightful from practitioners who have been in the consultancy industry for many years. I was so lucky to have had this opportunity and I’ve learnt a lot from others’ points of view.”

Deloitte’s association with the Business School doesn’t end there. Many students from the Challenge have been recruited into permanent positions with Deloitte globally over the years, and Deloitte also put a selection of their associates and managers through our Executive MBA each year.