A combined team of students from Oxford University and the University of London has won the overall prize in an event, which pitted the physical and mental skills of university teams against one another and helped them build their CVs.

Around 260 students forming 65 teams from universities across the UK took part in the 8 Task Challenge, adopted by international accountancy and consulting firm Grant Thornton. 

Maria Floud, graduate recruitment manager at Grant Thornton, says: “Taking on extra responsibility at university is key in developing strong communication, leadership and teamwork skills; exactly the abilities that employers are looking for in their future graduate recruits. The 8 Task Challenge is about being physically and mentally active and it helps students build their CVs.” 

James Steiger, from specialist graduate events business TARGETevents, which devised the event, which has been used by five other graduate recruiters, adds: “The whole point of the event was to push students and really challenge them.”

The combined team of students from Oxford University and the University of London won the overall challenge prize at the end of April, scooping £1,500 for their team and the same amount again for their university societies.