In 2012 the University of Northampton was recognised as England’s No 1 University for employability* with 96 per cent of graduates going on to further education or graduate employment within six months of graduating.
The University believes that the benefits of higher education are not only the academic knowledge built during a degree course; it’s also about having the skills employers are looking for in graduate employees.
Graduate Ben Rogers was inspired by the way advertising agency Leo Burnett created a graduate incubator a
gency, building on this idea he approached the Northampton Business School with the idea. Ben worked with Kardi Somerfield, Lecturer in Marketing and Kate Broadhurst, Head of Enterprise Development, to create a way for University of Northampton students to build their employability prospects. Hot House a marketing communications agency embedded within the University was created.
Hot House is predominantly staffed by students designed to build on their academic knowledge with practical agency experience. Hot House provides students with full exposure to the realities of life in their marketing communications careers. Students are involved in all areas of the agency; from pitching for business to client handling; through to delivering creative work. Academics from the Business School oversee the agency’s work to ensure the agency works to the high standards and professionalism of the Business School.
Ben Rogers, Coordinator of Hot House said: “The agency directly increases the employability prospects of students through the high level, relevant work experience that we offer. Utilising the incredible resources of the Business School, we are able to offer affordable marketing and business services to small and medium sized businesses which will facilitate their growth.”
Hot House
“Already Hot House has provided marketing solutions and web design to Induced Energy, Northampton Credit Union, Good will Solutions and assisted in a strategy for Mellor and Russell to diversify their product ranges in Tesco.”
Ben and his colleagues at the Northampton Business School have spent the last three months building the business infrastructure and are now ready to officially launch the agency. Leading the way, Rothwell town centre has appointed the Hot House team to manage marketing research, marketing plans and marketing communications for Rothwell as a UK destination.
Kevin Jones local property developer and investor specialist says “Rothwell town centre has enjoyed a period of steady growth which has made it the envy of other towns in the area. Rather than rest on its laurels, it was felt essential to identify the reasons for this prosperity and create a strategy to ensure continued growth and wellbeing of the town into the future.
“However it was quickly identified that the effort required to do this would take resources the town could not provide. Traders are focused on the running of their own businesses, fending off competition from larger national retailers and the internet. So, it was with great pleasure that we welcomed the opportunity to have Northampton University and its students working at Hot House develop this idea for the town.”
Hot House are already in discussion with clients such as Crimestoppers, Goodwill Solutions, Wamitab and Kettering Borough Council.
Valerie Hitchman, Head of Community Services, Kettering Borough Council said “It is fantastic news to have this new exciting enterprise as part of the business support package being offered by Hot House. Easy access to innovative and affordable marketing and communications is invaluable to developing and growing our local businesses – this project has the added benefit of providing our local students with experience of working on live projects thereby improving their employability prospects.”