Universities Business Challenge
The Universities Business Challenge is an exciting opportunity for Business School students to develop their skills in a live business simulation competing against students from across the country.
Improve your knowledge of the business world, develop your employability skills, meet potential employers, enhance your CV – have a lot of fun and win cash prizes.
The event is available to both UG and PG students who compete in separate competitions.
What's involved - At a glance
- Developed and run by Learning Dynamics Limited The Universities Business Challenge (UBC) is a virtual business management simulation that is designed to bring real world business challenges to life.
- Students will be placed in to teams of 5, including 1 Team Leader, that will compete against the other teams across the country in a live virtual marketplace.
- For both UG and Global Masters - Round 1 consists of 5 weekly trading periods teams. Teams will be presented with different company and market information that they will need to assess and make a series of decisions about their business on. These decisions may include pricing, supply chains or entering new markets.
- At the end of each weekly trading period the decisions are fed in to the model to determine the impact of the company and it's financial performance, with results published before the next trading period opens.
- Winners will be determined by whoever has achieved the greatest improvement in financial performance.
- At the end of the 5 virtual trading periods, the top UG teams will be invited to attend an in person semi-final (Location TBC).
- The final will also be an in person event involving the top teams from the semi-finals.
- Teams will have access to a helpdesk which is operated by our partners and the simulation owner, Learning Dynamics Ltd.
- The competition is limited, see below for UG and PG application timelines.
How do I apply?
Entries to both the UG and PG competition are now closed.
Information on when 2025-26 entries will open will be made available within LUBS Employability and Opportunities Newsletters in the next academic year.
Still have a question?
Click on each of the headings below to find out detailed information about the competition, its requirements and timeline. If you have any further questions please email LUBSOpportunity@leeds.ac.uk
When is the deadline to enter?
All UG entries must be received by 9am on Monday 21st October
The closing date for Global Masters competition is 9am 10th January 2025
Who is eligible to participate?
All LUBS parented degree students are eligible to take part in the competition. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students are eligible to apply for their respective competitions.
How does it work?
The UBC is a simulation-based event held over 5 week-long trading periods, that provides students with the opportunity to take on the role of board directors who have taken control and responsibility for improving the performance of a company. They need to take into account not only the financial performance of the company, but also its responsibilities to its various stakeholders including its suppliers, its customers and its employees and key sustainability goals. Teams from universities across the UK compete to achieve maximum profit, acquire new markets and enhance stakeholder ratings.
Why should you take part?
The UBC offers undergraduates the opportunity to improve their knowledge of the business world, develop their employability skills, meet potential employers, and enhance their CV
You will develop a deeper understanding of key business concepts through direct hands-on experience. The simulation provides an immersive experience that gives you the opportunity put theory into practice.
The key skills and competencies you will be able to develop are:
Analytical skills: Information analysis, recognition of key information and use of information to influence decision-making in team situations.
Commercial Awareness: Understanding the complexity of business. Evaluating key measures of business performance and how they impact on decision making. Identifying stakeholders and their ability to impact on business decisions and performance.
Influencing Skills: Developing the ability to influence one or more members of a team. Knowing how to influence opinions and decision-making against strong opposition. Influencing others to remain motivated when faced with adversity or failure.
Understanding Leadership: Understanding leadership style in order to gain commitment from others working as a team.
Planning and Organising: Dealing with time pressures in order to meet deadlines. Workload delegation and setting priorities.
Team working: Learning to reach a workable compromise amongst a peer group and sharing responsibility for team-based decisions. Respecting team roles and individual contributions/styles.
A results-driven approach: Understanding strategies for achieving specific business goals and performance indicators.
Financial awareness: Managing and measuring the financial performance of a business. Understanding financial statements in order to make business decisions that drive profitability.
Innovation in problem-solving: Using innovative and creative skills in solving problems relating to the business itself or the way the team works together.
Managing the customer relationship: Understanding the importance of managing customers and how poor customer service impacts on business results and competitive position.
What does the application process involve?
You will be asked a few questions about you and your programme of study. You then need to provide a brief statement outlining why you would like to take part, and how you would benefit from the competition.
If you would like to be considered for a Team Leader position you will also be asked to give a statement on why and what you would bring to the role.
All successful applicants will be invited to attend an online launch event to discuss the competition outline in more detail. Exact time TBC
What does the Team Leader do?
The Team leader is responsible for uploading decisions to the online portal throughout each trading period. They will also act as the facilitator of the group, and be a contact point with the UBC Helpdesk.
When does the UG competition take place?
The key dates for the UG competition are:
Entries Close - Monday 21st October at 9:00am
Successful applicants will be invited to attend an information and team meet-and-greet event on the afternoon of the Wednesday 23rd of October, where you will find out more details and be able to meet your team.
Trial Trading Period (TTP) - Wednesday 23rd October - Tuesday 5th November
Trading Period One (TP1) - Wednesday 6th November - Tuesday 12th November
Trading Period Two (TP2) - Wednesday 13th November - Tuesday 19th November
Trading Period Three (TP3) - Wednesday 20th November - Tuesday 26th November
Trading Period Four (TP4) - Wednesday 27th November - Tuesday 3rd December
Trading Period Five (TP5) - Wednesday 4th December - Tuesday 10th December
Round 2 Semi-Finalists Announcement - Wednesday 11th December 2024
Round 2 Semi-Finals - Early March 2025
Round 3 Grand Final - Early April 2025
When does the PG competition take place?
The key dates for the PG competition are:
Trial Trading Period (TTP) - Wednesday 22nd January - Tuesday 4th February
Trading Period One (TP1) - Wednesday 5th February - Tuesday 11th February
Trading Period Two (TP2) - Wednesday 12th February - Tuesday 18th February
Trading Period Three (TP3) - Wednesday 19th February - Tuesday 25th February
Trading Period Four (TP4) - Wednesday 26th February - Tuesday 4th March
Trading Period Five (TP5) - Wednesday 5th March - Tuesday 11th March
Grand-Finalists Announcement By Wednesday 12th March 2025
Round 2 Grand Final - Late March/Early April 2025
What is expected of you?
The Universities Business Challenge is intended to be a fun and interactive way of developing your skills and employability. You will be working as part of a team and your contribution will have a direct impact on your other team members. As such it is vital that you are fully committed to taking part throughout the whole process. All participants are must commit to the following:
- They can attend the participant briefing/watch the recording
- They are available to contribute throughout the whole competition as set out in the timeline above.
- They are prepared to meet with their team mates to work together during the trading periods.
- They will interact with their mentor as appropriate.
It is anticipated that participants will need to commit two hours per week for the first two trading rounds, and one hour per week thereafter.
What support is available?
Learning Dynamics have a live helpdesk that will be available to answer any questions throughout the trading period.
Teams will also have access to a mentor that they will be able to discuss the challenges with. More details about the mentors will be provided nearer the start of the competition.
What have previous participants from LUBS said about the competition?
In 2022/23 LUBS entered into both PG and UG competitions with teams making the finals in both.
Have a look at this article to see what they thought about the event, and why you should take part in this years opportunity.
Contact us
You can contact the LUBS Opportunity Team by email at LUBSOpportunity@leeds.ac.uk
Our online open hours are Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm (except for bank holidays and closure days).