Partner Article

Birmingham students present new product ideas

Entrepreneurial students from Birmingham City University have readied product concepts to present this week as part of a project with whistle manufacturer, Acme.

Students from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Faculty of Technology Engineering and the Environment and Birmingham City Business School have created a wide range of products, from child-finding whistles to retro-style grooming packs for men.

The products will be presented at the University’s Entrepreneur Shop in Birmingham’s Mailbox on Thursday.

Birmingham City’s “Think Shop” scheme hoped to involve graduates and students in product development, and give them the technical and productive skills to produce new product ideas.

Students worked on their concepts in Birmingham’s jewellry quarter alongside Acme Whistles, allowing them to design their products in an entrepreneurial environment.

Simon Topman, chief executive of Acme Whistles, commented: “This has been a wonderful experience for Acme, not just for new ideas – innovative and entrepreneurial ideas – but watching as young aspiring students from various disciplines and backgrounds delved into the business to find new products with new markets that offer real commercial possibilities.”

Beverly Nielsen, director employer engagement at Birmingham City University, who commissioned the scheme, added: “What’s been different here is that our students have had the chance to look at developing new products by looking at the opportunities in a real business.

“This has meant generating fresh ideas but in addition having to apply these to a real market, real customers and a real business to deliver a very steep learning curve.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .