Students at Edinburgh’s Universities will devise new business ideas to tackle global challenges and pitch them to a panel of industry leaders in the second year of #makeyourmark.
The two-day competition challenges undergraduates to match profit with purpose by using commercial ideas to tackle inequalities and transform local communities.
Running on the 24-26 October, #makeyourmark will involve undergraduate students from the Business School, School of Law, Edinburgh College of Art, and the School of Literatures, Languages and Culture.
They will be tackling challenges such as homelessness, child labour, isolation and loneliness in old age, gender equality, access to clean water, and financial literacy.
Business leaders and experts from Waitrose, SocialBite, Brewgooder and Standard Life Aberdeen will be on hand to offer advice across the two days.
Other organisations involved are Social Investment Scotland, Mr Miss Mrs, Homes for Good Edinburgh Tool Library and Children’s University Scotland.
The three top teams win mentoring with leaders across global companies and local social enterprises.
Dean of the Business School, Professor Wendy Loretto, said: “The Business School asks students to look at the world with critical eyes, and this is event is another instance of our commitment. Our first year undergraduates, for instance, begin their time in Edinburgh on a Global Challenges course which considers the positives but also the difficulties caused by globalisation.
Meanwhile our MBA take treks to India and Colombia where students learn from large companies and social enterprises. With #makeyourmark students will get the chance to discuss their ideas with business leaders, to work with students from different parts of the university, and to create something that has the potential to benefit our collective future.”
Now in its second year, the winning team of the inaugural #makeyourmark created femmebox, a product to support homeless women with vital feminine hygiene products.
Femmebox works by monthly subscription: it matches every box of hygiene products purchased with an equivalent parcel, delivered to shelters for women in need.
Femmebox teammember, Mariah Tissera, said: “The amount of knowledge and skills I gained from well-established social entrepreneurs about big issues that are very close to my heart has been incredible! It might be just 48 hours but don’t underestimate how much you can achieve and how rewarding this experience can be!”
