A live consultancy programme running January–May 2026, the University of Birmingham’s Innovation Consultancy Challenge (Sport Business) will connect ambitious MSc Sports, Business, Management and Leadership students with forward-thinking industry partners to solve real-world challenges in sport, health, and business. We’re inviting expressions of interest from organisations to take advantage of this opportunity.
Over five months, student consultancy teams—backed by two world-leading schools, the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences and Birmingham Business School—will co-create solutions that combine Performance, Product, and People across the business of sport. From boosting competitive edge and developing market-ready products to transforming team culture, innovation projects will deliver practical, commercially relevant, and socially responsible outcomes.
For industry partners, it’s a high-value, cost-neutral opportunity to explore new ideas with no financial risk. Challenges are scoped together, allowing students to research, plan, and propose solutions, before pitching their concepts at the programme finale. Partners gain fresh perspectives, feasibility studies, and even potential IP—without draining internal resources. Engagement is light-touch, with three key checkpoints: project scoping in the Autumn, January’s Innovation Safari, and a final pitch in May.
The benefits go beyond the project. Partners will connect with talented, entrepreneurial graduates ready to make an impact in your sector. You’ll also join a network of businesses already working with the University through placements, professional dissertations, and innovation partnerships.
The Challenge fits within the University’s broader commitment to industry collaboration, which includes student placements, professional dissertations, and ongoing partnerships through the Graduate School of Sport and Professional Practice. These initiatives connect academic expertise with real-world impact, helping businesses embed innovation, improve efficiency, and drive sustainable growth. Whether it’s to test a bold new idea, pilot a concept, or develop a longer-term collaboration, the Innovation Consultancy Challenge gives business access to talent, expertise, and creative thinking to make it happen.
Follow this link for expressions of interest (open 01 August – 30 October 2025) or scan the QR code.
Contact: Dr Holly Henderson (h.henderson.2@bham.ac.uk ) or Dr Jamie Pringle (j.pringle@bham.ac.uk ).