Impact Challenge

The Impact Challenge (IC) is a week long work experience opportunity open to penultimate and final year undergraduate students from a widening participation background.

 

Work with employers to solve real-life problems and have the chance to learn and see first-hand how an organisation operates and how you can make an impact to their business. You will work in small groups on a project, set by an employer, where each group then presents back their output(s) at the end of the week. 

The main dates for Impact Challenge are Monday 10 June to Friday 14 June 2024

What will I gain from attending?

The opportunity to gain key skills and attributes that will support you with exploring your strengths and interests in order to find a career that is right for you and build your professional network, adding to your LinkedIn profile.

Gain stronger interpersonal skills, leadership, management, team working and negotiation skills. We will provide you with training sessions on project management, commercial awareness, teamwork and delivering effective presentations. Your group will also be assigned a mentor to guide you through your project brief, offer suggestions and act as a sounding board. 

We will also give you £100 for completing Impact Challenge providing you attend, complete the full week and attend a follow up support workshop. 

After the Impact Challenge week there will be a compulsory follow up activity on post evaluation and adding the skills gained on to a LinkedIn profile. Every participant will need to attend the 90 minute session in person on either Monday 17 June 14:00 on campus or Wednesday 19 June 11:00 online. For further details or questions, please email the team at p2c@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Key Dates

To fully commit to Impact Challenge, please bear in mind the following key dates:

  • Applications open: Monday 18 March 2024
  • Application deadline: Monday 22 April 2024 (23:59)

Impact Challenge main event: Monday 10 June to Friday 14 June 2024.

Eligibility and sign up

Applications are open to Birmingham Scholar Penultimate and Final Year Undergraduates.

In addition to the above, applicants who consider themselves a part of one or more of the following categories may also apply:

  • In receipt of a P2B (Pathways to Birmingham) or A2B (Access to Birmingham) offer 
  • A care leaver or care experienced 
  • Registered as disabled / in receipt of Disability Student Allowance 
  • Of black or Asian ethnicity*

*Applications are particularly encouraged from students of Asian Bangladesh, Asian Pakistani, Black Caribbean and Black African backgrounds.

We encourage students who are not certain about their Birmingham Scholar status to get in touch via P2C@contacts.bham.ac.uk for verification.

How to apply:

Please note, places will be offered on a first come, first served basis. If all places get filled, we will add you to a waiting list. Priority access will be given to those who have not previously participated in Impact Challenge.

You can select 3 organisations you would like to work with over the course of the week. If successful, you will only be paired with one organisation.

To make your application, please complete the short application via the link below. 

Previous employers

Previous employers at Impact Challenge include:

 

 Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

 BT Group

 Limitless Travel

PwC

Sainsbury's

Sport 4 Life:

West Midlands Police

Student Reviews

""Humaira Ravat
BA English Language and Literature

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet new people and work with a small local business. It was incredibly rewarding to see the impact we made. I have learned to use my initiative when solving problems and it has given me the confidence to present to large audiences.

""Ayesha Islam
BA Theology and Religion

Our group worked with the Chinese Community Centre to help them find out how effective the centre is to people. Visiting the centre was fun, I felt like I was on a professional business trip but still safe as everyone around me was so kind. I have gained confidence into exploring my career choice.... and I am open to new experiences.

""Blessing Panache Nhundu
BSc Sport and Exercise Studies

The Impact Challenge has already helped me because I have now done two placements and in the process of starting two businesses. By completing the Impact Challenge, I had the foundation I needed to boost my confidence to take on more opportunities that summer.  

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