We have our Manchester Masters!

Well the wait is over – after months of planning the inaugural year of Manchester Masters, we’ve chosen our final ten students.

Manchester Masters is funded by the Innovation Investment Fund (which in turn is funded by NESTA, NWDA and Manchester City Council) and aims to retain the top student talent in Manchester. For too long the city’s graduates have gravitated towards London or abroad after completing their education at Manchester. However, with an abundance of renowned and world class companies based here in our own city we felt it was right to ensure that Manchester seeks to keep hold of its universities’ best business brains.

Following the launch of the scheme over seventy-five Manchester businesses expressed an interest in taking part. We were overwhelmed by support from some of the city’s most eminent business people, who pledged much of their own time and effort to the initiative.

With the support of Manchester Metropolitan University we processed hundreds of student applications and selected a shortlist of the fifty brightest applicants. These students went on to take part in a two day boot camp event in which they carried out a series of tasks and challenges in addition to being interviewed by the judging panel. 
As Project Director for the programme I was very impressed with the creativity of the students involved; it was extremely difficult to whittle down so many high calibre candidates to a final ten.

However that had to be done and we now have our first Manchester Masters - you can watch the videos of them here.

We’re busy finalising arrangements for the graduates’ placement year in order to maximise the benefits of the programme for all involved. After that, we’ll be launching the 2010 intake – so do keep checking the website if you’d like to be involved!

- Sandy