A group of international students who are studying for their MBAs in the United Arab Emirates are pictured above on their visit to Guisborough and other parts of North Yorkshire this summer. As part of a Project Management Module validated by York St John University, the students have to complete a major task. For these students that means preparing a marketing strategy for Guisborough’s soon to be refurbished Town Hall Gateway under the guidance 
of their tutor and Gateway Project Treasurer Bill Suthers.
The students are pictured enjoying a sunny, fact finding visit to Guisborough in preparation for their project. They are all mature students, who work for some of the leading finance and strategy businesses in the Middle East. They will form three groups to compete in presenting the best proposal. Chair of the Gateway Project Andy Murray said, “I am looking forward to seeing the ideas. These people have never visited Guisborough before, so they come to the project with no preconceptions. And, if nothing else they will return to the UAE with a positive view of the area and hopefully spread the word that Guisborough is a great place for tourists.”
The students were treated to a guided tour of Gisborough Priory, the de Brus Cenotaph and St Nicholas Church which they greatly appreciated. Although they were equally enthusiastic about their next tour stop in Great Ayton which included the Captain Cook Schoolroom and that local favourite, ice cream at Suggitts! Clearly, the James Cook legacy is an important piece in the intricate heritage jigsaw in this part of North Yorkshire which the Guisborough Gateway plans to promote. “Although the Old Town Hall is in the centre of Guisborough we propose to promote tourism throughout the whole area. It will be a Gateway to the heritage of East Cleveland and provide a gateway between the industrial areas of Teesside and the countryside in the North York Moors National Park,” commented Andy Murray.
Following a picturesque drive through Bilsdale and a brief visit to Rievaulx the students enjoyed an audience with Mr Colin Pyrah, the Gateway Project’s volunteer consultant. Colin has developed a number of the major leisure facilities in the UAE as well as the award winning Jorvik Centre in York. “It has been a great day and the students have enjoyed their trip to North Yorkshire. They will take a positive image of the area back home and spread the word to a potential international tourism market,” said Bill Suthers who organised the visit.