Business students toast graduation success with brews of their own design

Two Business Management students at the University of Suffolk were able to toast their graduation success this week by enjoying beer and kombucha of their own making.

The University partnered with Humber Doucy Brewing Company in Bacton and the Students’ Union for a final year project in the spring, tasking the students with coming up with a complete marketing and communications strategy to brand a new beer and a new kombucha aimed at students.

The students had to come up with a name, design the branding and bottle logos, as well as social media activities, marketing campaigns and other related products such as branded beer mats and glasses.

The students had to pitch their proposals to a panel including representatives from the University, the SU and the brewery.

Rebecca Mines was the successful beer pitch for her design ‘Thirst Class Honours’, while Adele Harris secured the winning kombucha, ‘Booch Brew’.

The new brews went on sale at the start of term for the SU’s freshers’ fair, with the drinks also available at various events – including this week’s graduation – through the year.

Rebecca, from Witham in Essex, came up with the tagline ‘Manifest a First with a Thirst’, and aptly achieved a First on the course herself!

The 22-year-old said: “It was really nice to see your work turned into a real thing. I’m applying for jobs at the moment and it’s a great talking point in those interviews.

“I’ve never been into public speaking, I’ve always been very shy, but to see my pitch was successful was definitely a confidence boost.

“I never thought I would be able to finish or even go to uni because I had a lot of mental health challenges, so it feels amazing that I’ve finished university and even graduating with a First. It definitely gives me motivation to go further.”

For Adele, ‘Booch Brew’ was designed to give students a “chill out” alternative to alcohol.

“I’m not a drinker so I would much rather have a nice, cosy, chilled session drinking a non-alcoholic beverage,” the 27-year-old from Felixstowe said.

“I had no idea the drinks were going to be available at freshers’ fair, I happened to be there and was pulled aside to be shown it was on sale. It’s so surreal, seeing your names on something like that is quite special.”

Adele has since joined the Mental Health Nursing course, but said the Business Management degree has helped her as she continues her academic studies.

“The whole course definitely helped boost my confidence,” she said. “I’m shy and don’t talk that much, but that really got me out there and helped a lot.”

Liz Cobbold, Lecturer in Business Management who ran the module, has a background in the beer industry and in brand management and design.

She said: “The Brand and Communication Strategies module is a really important project connecting students’ learning with industry practice, and to partner with Humber Doucy Brewing Company and the SU on this was a brilliant way for them to be creative with their designs.

“Rebecca and Adele gave fantastic pitches which were of a standard I have seen in the industry, and seeing their drinks on sale now is so well-deserved.”

Alan Ridealgh, who co-founded Humber Doucy Brewing Company in 2019 with his son, John, said: “We enjoyed the process from start to finish. Working together with the students and staff was great and we learned a lot too!

“We look forward to repeating this on an annual basis for the foreseeable future.”

Dionne Walton, CEO of the University of Suffolk Students’ Union, said: “The SU is all about opportunities for students, so it’s been great to be involved with this project, and to see how much the students have got out of it. Well done to Rebecca and Adele for their creativity!”

More information about the BA Business Management course is available on the website here.

For more information on Humber Doucy Brewing Company, head to the website here.