An events management graduate has bagged a good deal since leaving university thanks to the help of a local shopping centre.
Alex Ludlam worked with Drake Circus in Plymouth to organise a unique ‘student only’ shopping event as part of his degree at Plymouth University.
The event proved to be so successful – attracting 7,500 students with entertainment, live acts and other attractions – that Alex has been inspired to establish a new business with support from the Prince’s Trust, Student Shopping UK.
Using the Drake Circus event as a blueprint, Alex’s first event under his new guise in Nottingham attracted over 20,000 students, making it the largest retail student event in the UK.
He has now developed Freshers’ Shopping Fest 2011 with events taking place in Nottingham, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Stoke-On-Trent and Cambridge.
Alex said: “This all started following what was a unique and positive relationship between Drake Circus and those of us on the Events Management course at Plymouth University. We have had great support from the marketing team who helped us to creative events that were absolutely right for the student population in Plymouth and I now hope to revolutionise the retail and social experience for shoppers across the UK.”
Alex’s success saw Student Shopping UK win the accolade of ‘Best New Business’ at Plymouth University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Enterprise Awards in September 2011.
Rachel Stephens, marketing manager at Drake Circus, said: “Plymouth has one of the largest student populations in the UK. The University is situated literally across the road, so a close working relationship is key to our strategy for growth. Alex and his colleagues established a very high standard for student nights in the centre, a high standard we continue to maintain with the University. We are delighted that Alex has been able to take the experience he had with us to create such a successful business.”
Drake Circus continues to work with local university students studying events management and more than 10,000 students took part in a recent event.
