Member Article

Willy Wonka World enterprise 'bootcamp' introduces students to sweet future

Budding entrepreneurs gained a sweet introduction to business when they took part in a two-day Willy Wonka themed enterprise bootcamp at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

Students and graduates from across the North West unleashed their ‘pure imagination’ to complete various creative tasks, including the Great Glass Elevator Challenge and the Invention Factory.

They were coached by Wonka’s ‘Chocolatiers’, including successful entrepreneurs and experts from MMU Centre for Enterprise , who awarded ‘golden eggs’ to the best performing teams in a closing awards ceremony.

The annual New Directions event, delivered by the MMU Centre for Enterprise, is fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is free to UK or EU students and graduates living in the North West. It is part of the university’s Enterprise Champions programme to develop entrepreneurial talent and support student start-up businesses.

Ann Mulhaney, Enterprise Fellow at MMU Centre for Enterprise, said: “The number of UK graduate start-up businesses has risen by almost 70% in the past four years and this fun event was a career springboard with a serious aim of developing enterprising skills. There were sessions on how to build a personal brand, creativity, generating ideas, problem solving and how to makes ideas happen. These are all valuable skills for employment, whether participants choose to build their own business or not.”

She continued: “Willy Wonka is a great example of an entrepreneur, which is why we themed the day around Wonka World. Also, everyone loves chocolate! Attendees had the opportunity to meet, network and exchange knowledge with successful local entrepreneurs. Those students who come with a new business idea were also able to discuss and develop their ideas with our experts.”

Latest statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) show that the number of graduate start up companies increased by 68% between 2008/9 and 2012/13. Last year, UK graduates founded 3,5000 new companies - up from just over 2,000 four years previously. This data from the 2012/13 Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey also showed that the number of people employed by graduate start-ups has grown by 94.5%. Since 2008 the MMU Centre for Enterprise team has helped more than 1,500 students to develop their enterprising skills, as well as helping to create over 100 new graduate businesses.

Further information: www.mmucfe.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Manchester Metropolitan University Centre for Enterprise .