A team of business studies students from Broadway School, Perry Barr, won a business building competition hosted by Newman University College Birmingham.

Four colleges in the region – Dudley College, Stourbridge College, Birmingham Metropolitan College and Broadway School – each submitted a team of four business studies pupils to compete in the event.

Using SimVenture business-building simulation software, the students had to set up and run their own virtual company from scratch, making a series of decisions throughout the game that would affect their business’s performance.

Held over an intense day, it was an exciting opportunity for the students to work as a team to develop a greater understanding of business and management, in an interactive and challenging environment.

Steve Harris, senior lecturer in management at Newman University College, who organised the event, said: “The SimVenture software enabled the students to establish their own virtual company and see the consequences of their decisions to authentic business scenarios.

“The software provides interactive feedback and really engages the students, encouraging them to make the step from prescribed study to taking personal responsibility for their own learning.

“The competition enabled the students to grasp business and enterprising skills in a challenging and realistic way.” and will hopefully encourage them to take their interest in the subject to degree level.”

The winning team was not only judged on profit but also on how efficiently time, resources, skills and space were used.