Four Lancaster University students had an exclusive chance to go deep into the heart of global business at Accenture’s London headquarters for an insight day.

Team Excel, comprised of Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) students Youssef, Princeton, Isaac, and James, earned the opportunity after winning the LUMS Consultancy Case Competition.

The visit offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s leading consulting firms. Throughout the day, the team engaged with Accenture consultants to learn more about career paths in consulting and the kinds of projects shaping industries today.

Mo Shahidinejad, Proposition Owner and Project Manager at Accenture, and one of the competition’s judges, hosted the students and shared his own experiences within the firm.

A standout session allowed the team to explore the practical applications of Generative AI and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) AI. With AI dominating headlines, the students found it eye-opening to see how these technologies are being deployed meaningfully within real business contexts.

This experience left a lasting impression on the team, inspiring a deeper interest in consulting and providing valuable insight into potential future career paths.

Rory Daly, Head of LUMS Careers, said: “We place a great emphasis on experiential learning, where students can put their theoretical knowledge into practice. We are very grateful to Accenture and to the Investors in Excellence programme for facilitating this fascinating student experience.”

The opportunity was made possible thanks to the generous support of the LUMS Investors in Excellence scheme, whose partnership continues to create transformative experiences for students beyond the lecture theatre.