A North East-based initiative set up to champion ethical business
practice has enlisted Northumbria University students to help recruit new
members and raise its profile.
The North East Initiative on Business Ethics (NIBE) was established in
2013 by working professionals interested and involved in business ethics. It works
through face-to-face meetings and seminars advising companies how to develop
ethical practices and the benefits these can offer. To help increase its supporter-base
and raise awareness of its work, NIBE approached The Business Clinic at
Northumbria, where students provide a free consultancy service to real clients.
Working as team Ignition Consulting, final year business and law
students Henry Dodds, Lizzy Park, Kara McMahon and Fraser Robinson took on the
brief from NIBE. They developed a strategy for NIBE through extensive market
research with regional and national businesses and the London-based Institute
of Business Ethics (IBE). The students
said: “Providing a consultancy service for a real-life client is very different
from more traditional theory-based learning, and this has made it an incredibly
challenging and rewarding experience. We
recommended stronger partnerships with national organisations, a more focused digital
marketing and social media strategy and targeting students and recent graduates”.
Kevan Carrick, Chairman of JK Property Consultants and NIBE Chair, said:
“We are challengers for good business ethics, and one of the best ways to
promote this is by engaging with people early in their careers. As the only
organisation of our type outside of London we have been promoting this message
regionally. Our aim now is to gain a stronger presence nationally, and the work
put in by the students will help us achieve this.”
Nigel Coates, director of the Business Clinic, said: “There is so much
potential for NIBE to grow and to continue making a real impact, and it’s great
that we can follow its success. The Business Clinic has the expertise to
support consultancy work across a wide range of sectors. Our aim is to achieve a win-win situation and
it is satisfying to see the real impact we are having on both our clients and
students.”
