Dwyer Group takes part in the University of Winchester’s Digital Media Pitch Your Project

14th June 2018. The University of Winchester recently invited the Dwyer Group, one of the world’s largest franchise organisations, to an event organised by its Business School to allow final year business students to present their pitch projects to a panel of industry experts.

One of the experts on the judging panel was Joshua Barker of the Dwyer Group, who also took the opportunity to speak to many of the students about the importance of values in the business world and the advantages of franchising as a potential career path.

“It was so exciting to be part of the pitch your project panel and to hear the budding entrepreneurs of the future pitching their ideas”, commented Joshua Barker, Marketing Manager of the Dwyer Group. “The breath of the students ideas were hugely creative and inventive, with apps ranging from ‘find a musician’ through to a ‘dog sitting’ and ‘what’s in your kitchen’.  I was totally inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and confidence when presenting their projects to us and believe this is a testament to the quality of the University of Winchester. 

“Having worked in franchising for over five years, I had the chance to engage with many of the students and shared my experience gained from working at the Dwyer Group – a billion dollar global company with over 3,000 franchise locations and 20 consumer brands.  It was interesting to talk to them about the importance of core values, which creates the backbone to any company in terms of growth, structure and reputation.  The Dwyer Group has a commitment to franchising and we are always looking to bring in new blood to the industry.  I’m hoping some of these students that I have met today will be part of our next generation of franchise entrepreneurs and I can start using some their apps in my everyday life!”

Paul Wilson, Programme Leader for Digital Media in the Dept. of Digital Futures, at the University of Winchester: “We were delighted to have Joshua Barker join us on the  judging panel and to have access to this expertise.  He not only gave our students a real insight into the business world, but he also encouraged many of them to think outside the box and take risks if they want to succeed.  This pitch your project has been a culmination of course work carried out over the three years of digital media study and a chance for our students to showcase their ideas and creativity.  It has been a huge success and well done to everyone involved.”   

The Dwyer Group has a strong code of values and this has been the foundation for its success for 37 years.  Not only have these values attracted strong employers and franchisees, it serves as the glue that keeps its culture special and it also helps to attract the right team members and franchisees to the organisation.