Member Article

Festival to inspire budding entrepreneurs

A two-day Enterprise festival, designed to inspire would-be entrepreneurs and promote business start-up as a career option, takes place at the University of Sunderland.

Enterprise FEST 2013 brings together enterprising students and graduates from the University along with Sunderland and Gateshead Colleges who will receive expert advice and support from a range of external experts.

Over two days (Monday, October 21 to Tuesday, October 22) workshops will stimulate passion for business creation, and attendees will receive practical advice on how to turn their ideas into a reality.

There will be an inspirational Masterclass by Professor Alan Barrell, Entrepreneur in Residence at Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, University of Cambridge, entitled Show Me The Money. He will explore innovative approaches to fund commercialisation and business start up, including Crowdfunding and Impact Investing.

Prof Barrell has spent almost 30 years in senior executive positions in technology based industries and has become one of Cambridge’s most articulate promoters of entrepreneurship.

Contributing to this session is the University of Sunderland’s very own Visiting Professor for Enterprise, David Gibson OBE. David is a world-leader in enterprise education. He is currently working at Queen’s University Belfast and has won many international prizes in the area of Entrepreneurial Education.

Enterprise FEST 2013 is organised by The Enterprise Place a dedicated facility for student and graduate start-ups at the University. The festival has received additional support from Virgin Money and the North East Business Innovation Centre who will be on hand to provide specific expertise and deliver key elements of the programme.

Vince Robson, University Business Development Manager, who manages The Enterprise Place said: “Enterprise Fest 2013 will really help to spark the imagination of the individuals who take part. We’ve got a really interesting plan for the two days and we are looking forward to developing the entrepreneurial talent that emerges.”

Day one of Enterprise FEST 2013 begins at St Peter’s Gate, University of Sunderland, in Charles Street.

Day 2 involves a Masterclass at the Prospect Building 007, Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, followed by workshops at St Peter’s Gate.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by University of Sunderland .