Avalanche of Success for SIFE SALFORD Team (press release)

In these winter, snowy days I can't help myself from giving my press release a nice title related to the weather outside my window.

I am really proud of SIFE SALFORD - my favourite student organisation! That's why I am sharing this press release with you.
Enjoy!

AVALANCHE OF SUCCESS FOR SIFE SALFORD TEAM

University of Salford Proves to Have Outstanding Entrepreneurial Students

Salford, February 2009

A sum of £400 from Enterprise-Rent-A-Car and $400 worth of grant from HSBC for community projects, plus a proud 1st place in the regional business competition, Flux500, organised by Manchester Metropolitan University came as an avalanche of success for The University of Salford’s SIFE SALFORD team (Student in Free Enterprise), proving that the University has truly outstanding entrepreneurial students. Over the last two months SIFE SALFORD team has been recognized for its achievements in the field of business by some of the most well know companies in the country.

“The recent amazing achievements of our SIFE SALFORD team prove that our hard work, passion and excellent team work is really working for us”, said Mariusz Andreasik, Vice President of SIFE SALFORD. “We are convinced that thanks to these recognitions we will be able to really make a difference to our community – and this is our main goal as a Salford-based team”.

The most recent achievement is a win in the student business competition, Flux500, over 8 teams from such established universities like: Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Liverpool or University of Cumbria. SIFE SALFORD team was working there to solve a business problem using their knowledge, experience and creativity and presented their idea of developing an online-based golf booking business to the panel of judges.

Thomas Hurst, SIFE SALFORD’s President on that success: “We could not be more happier - as a new team working effectively only from this academic year we proved ourselves to be not only very good students but also a great team working together in a business and having a great fun as a bunch of friends.”

But University of Salford’s team successes do not stop there. A £400 accolade from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to the Business Ethics project means that targeted local entrepreneurs and businesses will be educated on the issues of copyright protection. Students are aiming to promote and support the open source and freeware software, as alternatives to expensive ones, that small local business cannot afford. “We are convinced that we are able to help businesses to develop themselves and this grant is really important to us to start running with the project”, explained Andreasik.

Entrepreneurial students from SIFE SALFORD will also compete with other universities for further £500 award and a trophy which will be awarded to the successful team at the SIFE UK National Competition in April this year, once the project outcomes are evaluated by the panel of judges.

On top of these successes comes an award of $400 from HSBC Bank dedicated to the Financial Literacy Project of SIFE SALFORD. This new project will change some of the 200 young people’s from 3 target groups ''spending'' culture to a ''savings'' culture and will help them become more innovative, prudent and knowledgeable in their handling of money and their finances. The programs within the project aim to be fun and entertaining, not boring and lecture-alike. Salford students will transfer the knowledge through lots of games and interactive materials: videos, books, nursery rhymes, to name but a few.

“We really can see this project making a big difference in these kids’ lives; our students will provide them with real life knowledge and understanding of the finance world which will help them in their whole future life - not only in business world, but also with their personal spending and saving decisions” – explained Hurst.

Entrepreneurial students from the University of Salford already keep on working on the future successes – they are now sharpening their presentation skills for the SIFE UK Regional Competition that will take place from the 16th to 27th of March this year and believe to make their way through to the National Competition in April 2009.

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