Member Article

Would-be entrepeneurs flirt with enterprise guru

Budding entrepreneurs were out in force for Go Wansbeck’s Celebration of Enterprise Event that took place at Woodhorn Colliery Museum on Wednesday.

The aim was to celebrate the successes of those individuals who were recently picked to visit Enterprise Island, a residential weekend course where 10 would-be entrepreneurs received advice and support about starting a new business.

The ‘Islanders’ also took part in a Great Enterprise Flirt where candidates were encouraged to pair up with individuals from other businesses and support agencies to talk about their ideas and aims for the future.

The idea for the ‘flirt’ was based on the speed dating concept where strangers are encouraged to chat to one another for a limited amount of time before moving around the room to meet with someone else.

Iain Scott, creator and facilitator of the Enterprise Island Challenge, said: “The purpose of the flirt is to get the Islanders talking and interacting with influential business people from across the region. Flirting as we all know can lead to many things - relationships are formed in this way and in terms of the entrepreneurs it will hopefully lead to many more doors being opened for them.”

Keith Raine, Go Wansbeck programme manager, added: “The Celebration of Enterprise event has been a great success. It is really encouraging to see how far the Islanders have come in such a short space of time and I hope it’s given them even more encouragement to go forward and pursue their dreams.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .