South Wales Business Clinic

Enabling USW students to have the personal skills, awareness and discipline essential in the workplace.

The South Wales Business Clinic is an education scheme whereby a group of students participate in a ‘consultancy firm’ to provide advice for our clients. The service is offered to all types of companies from SME’s, multi-national and non-profit organisations. Students get to the root of the problem, which results in a detailed report and presentation of their recommendations.

How it works:

USW students offer clients a full consultancy experience, after initially scoping the project clients can expect students in groups of three/four to get hands on and tackle the organisations problem. Generally, this consists of visiting the organisation, communicating with clients their progress, conducting primary or secondary research on behalf of the client and finally making recommendations in a form of report and/or presentation.

Potential areas of support:

Accountancy audit and recommendations
Digital marketing and social media audits
Feasibility studies on strategic decisions or expansion
Human resource audit and recommendations
Logistical review and recommendations
Strategic marketing reviews

Overview

The aim of each project is to undertake research and make recommendations to your organisation, that will benefit the organisation in terms of providing a resource. In order to do so, clients are expected to work with the university and the Business Clinic in the following ways:

• Agreeing the consultancy brief with South Wales Business Clinic

• Provide the required support / information to enable the students to complete the project. If feasible students will visit the premises of the organisation.

• Contact: this will involve an initial meeting with tutors to draft an initial brief, first meeting with students at the University premises or through video conferencing, telephone / email communications throughout the project and be available to attend the university premises for the presentation of the Consultancy Report. Some projects due to their nature may require more regular contact.

• Being involved in the marking of the consultancy report / presentation

• The level of confidentiality / commercial sensitivity will be established and appropriate measures will be put in place

• Depending on the size, complexity and timeline the project may be more appropriate for undergraduate or master’s students.

• All businesses will be interviewed or vetted to check the appropriateness of the project and suitability of the organisation for the university and students to work upon. Criteria for appropriateness will be set by University personnel, at a senior level.

Support

The Business Clinic will support the student consultancy firms and individuals, providing appropriate guidance, mainly through regular workshops / supervision and giving feedback when necessary. The Business Clinic endeavours for the student consultancy firms to produce consultancy reports and presentations to the highest of standards.

Costs

There will be no charge for the advice or information provided by South Wales Business Clinic.