Trench Networks Limited: A successful partnership with 缅北禁地 Business School
North East-based Trench Networks Limited worked with several MBA students on a business challenge which yielded positive outcomes for all involved.
21 March 2023
About Corporate Consultancy Projects
As part of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at 缅北禁地 Business School (NUBS), students get the opportunity to participate in a Corporate Consultancy Project. An organisation can work with an MBA student to explore a 鈥榣ive鈥� business problem or opportunity.
One student carries out the project in July and August. The student formulates proposals and recommendations for management action. They base these on research they have conducted.
The MBA Corporate Consultancy Project aims to develop partnerships between the University and industry. It enhances the employability of our students while addressing a real need within the collaborating organisation.
鈥疶rench Networks and its relationship with the 缅北禁地 MBA聽
North East-based is a multi-award-winning specialist internet service provider. They are experts in delivering robust and reliable internet connections in traditionally hard-to-reach environments, such as building sites and manufacturing facilities.
is Chief Operations Officer at Trench Networks Limited. He wanted to work with the MBA programme at 缅北禁地 for several reasons:
- Strong industry engagement
- Clear and concise process
- High-calibre students
- To support education in the region
Damien has hosted three MBA projects since first engaging with NUBS and plans to host more. He described his experience as 鈥渧ery easy and enjoyable. [The MBA students] provided interesting and fresh viewpoints on new markets with the back up from significant data sources and academic oversight.鈥�
Providing fresh insight for business challenges
Several MBA students worked with Damien and Trench Networks Limited. Their main focus was on market research and strategic recommendations for entry into new or adjacent markets with existing or modified technology. Damien said, 鈥淔rom a company鈥檚 point of view, it鈥檚 always worthwhile getting new and fresh viewpoints.鈥�
Ifeanyi Anthony 鈥淭ony鈥� Okonkwo was one of the MBA students that worked with Trench Networks. He explained why he wanted to work with a live client:
After the rigorous learnings on the MBA, I was eager to get into the field to test my learnings and experience. Trench Networks provided me with the proper opportunity to do so.
Successful outcomes
The collaborative project involved two months of full-time research. It yielded positive outcomes for both Tony and the Trench Networks Limited.
鈥淭he team within the company were receptive to disruptive ideas,鈥� Tony reflected. 鈥淭hey allowed me the bandwidth to think out of the box and provided the enabling environment throughout the project.鈥�
Having worked with three NUBS MBA students, Damien said, 鈥淪ome of the reports we鈥檝e received have actively changed our strategy for the better, sometimes by delaying market entry and in other cases modifying the approach.鈥�
Why should businesses work with the MBA programme?
The MBA at 缅北禁地 gives learners the opportunity to gain real business experience. They can then take this into their future careers. Tony reflected, 鈥淭he impact of this experience was that I became bolder to try out new ideas which led me to get a role in a UK Bank and currently building a disruptive product for the market.鈥�
If you have a business challenge or opportunity that could benefit from an MBA鈥檚 insight, Damien advises collaborating with the programme at 缅北禁地.
"I would strongly recommend it.鈥� says Damien. 鈥�It鈥檚 always worthwhile getting new and fresh viewpoints. The effort from a company point of view is relatively low and is not at all a time-consuming process, but the end results are often better than what you may have paid for in the past.鈥�
To learn more about how to engage with NUBS, please email external.engagement@newcastle.ac.uk