First-timers tell us they loved StudyWorld 2019
We welcomed lots of first-timers to StudyWorld in 2019, and they were keen to tell us how much they loved the event.
Educators, agents and exhibitors alike said they were impressed and inspired by the event, and they were finding the right contacts for their business.
Huge potential for business with a community feel
Kieran Singh and Joe England attended StudyWorld for a day to promote the FCV International Football Academy.
Kieran said: “We’ve been interested in speaking to organisations interested in sending students to the UK for football training. An ideal candidate might be a student who’s very passionate about becoming a professional football, whose English might not be up to scratch. What we offer is really unique. We’ve had a lot of interest here.”
The academy offers courses including BTEC and degrees with English to support those working or playing in professional football teams.
Joe said: “StudyWorld has a community feel – so many people are asking each other how they are and being like old friends. It’s really nice. We’re just scraping the surface as it’s our first year here. If we come again it will be even better – the potential is huge.”
“We’d like to come back,” concluded Kieran.
Productive meetings and busy schedules
“I think this is the best place to meet people. It’s very productive and I’ve found lots of good schools and had lots of meetings. I’d really recommend it,” says agent Arjun Thekkadavan of Alloa Consulting Ltd.
Julie Yorke of Rossall School was also delighted. She said: “It’s been absolutely busy from the moment we registered. Next time, two of us will come – I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of people who want to speak to a boarding school. I didn’t think it would be so busy, but I’m pleased and it’s been wonderful. I’m very happy we agreed to come and would definitely come next year.”
Exhibitor Chris Searle of Western Union was also as busy as he hoped: “I think the longest we’ve been here without someone is 15 minutes. There are people here with problems we can sort and that’s really good.”
Meet agents that are interested in your offer
Spencer Hawkes of BMI was at StudyWorld after 20 years out of the industry. He came to the event to launch products for the junior market.
Spencer said: “I met an audience which is very receptive to the idea of our products, but I have also spoken to some extremely important Chinese agents who have rather pleasingly reiterated our products in China are the right thing at the right time. It’s also been a delight to come and renew old acquaintances. I look forward to coming back in 2020.”
Paul Stephens, of WE Bridge, was also happy with “really good agents – there’s a wide variety and that’s good.”
‘I’ve resisted coming to StudyWorld for many years and I’m a complete convert’
Jill Cutting and Nicola Lee, of International Student Club, had been to StudyWorld before but “many years ago”. Nicola liked that people interested in a family-run school had found them and added: “There’s networking outside the room as well. We’re trying to get word out and we wouldn’t have come into contact with these people: it’s really lovely.”
Jill said: “Our schedule was quite full. It’s been better than we expected with a lot of openness to us. It’s great people are coming to find us. I’ve resisted coming to StudyWorld for many years and I’m a complete convert. I’ve worked for my company for 22 years and my memory of it was exhausting. Actually it is exhausting but in a good way. I’ve been quite inspired talking to agents and other schools as well and comparing notes.”
Make lots of contacts and meet interested people
For Ben Wakeford of IELTS, it was a great event: “I can’t believe I’ve never been to this before. I’ve been in the industry for years and years.”
IELTS sponsored the StudyWorld welcome reception where Yinbo Yu, former National Union of Students International Officer, shared his life-changing experience of studying in the UK.
Ben said: So far it’s amazing: I love the venue, and the English UK staff who are very helpful. The drinks reception was very successful for us. I liked it, it was well-attended, everyone liked it and was having a nice time.”
He added: “I like that it’s all spread out. There’s been a lot of traffic on the stand, some formal arrangements and people are very willing to speak and interested in what we do. I am learning quite a lot about what agents and supplier schools like, and I am making lots of contacts.”
Secure your place for StudyWorld 2020
Join us to build new business relationships, catch up with contacts, research your next project and hear the latest industry thinking by contacting the StudyWorld team with your preferred attendance option and indicate whether you would like to benefit from the Direct Debit offer*.
All delegates can receive the early bird discount until Friday 27 March 2020. English UK members have until the end of 2019 to benefit from the StudyWorld Direct Debit scheme
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