Partner Article

Scheme gives students key links to SMEs

4000 students are set to forge links with SMEs across England, thanks to a new Government led initiative.

The Startup Career Milkrounds is part of an enterprise education package, and will see the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) and Enternships.com working with university enterprise societies.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk, said: “Providing opportunities for young people to start and grow a business is crucial to the long term economic success of the UK.

“The Startup Career Milkrounds, being developed with the university enterprise societies, are a great way for students to meet local businesses, build strong links and discover the opportunities available to them whilst they are studying or when they graduate.”

It is hoped that the initiative will create a national brand for an annual Milkround fortnight which will give students and graduates an opportunity to engage with small firms through Milkround -style fairs, securing summer placements, raising entrepreneurial skills and ultimately creating graduate jobs.

Mr Prisk continued: “We are already doubling the number of enterprise societies and aim to have them in every university and most further education colleges by 2015.

“We will also soon be launching a £10 million startup loan programme for young people so that budding entrepreneurs can get a range of mentoring support and a small amount of capital to start their enterprise.

“ By investing in enterprise now, we can inspire and nurture the entrepreneurs of the future.“

NACUE has selected 20 enterprise societies to organise student-led Startup Career Milkrounds for their regions. Each society will receive £500 from NACUE to design and host the event, which will be match-funded by the society’s respective university.

Hushpreet Dhaliwal, CEO at NACUE, said: “We cannot ignore the fact that startups and small businesses employ more than 90 per cent of all people in the UK.

“Working with Enternships.com and student-led enterprise societies, this initiative will link entrepreneurs with local businesses and show students and graduates that startups offer a great alternative career path.”

Students will have the opportunity to hear from and connect with the vibrant startup communities in their regions, through a series of talks, speed-networking sessions, and meetings with local SMEs. Enternships.com will also work with each society so that local startups and SMEs can post placements and jobs on an online portal for free during the campaign fortnight.

The initiative will run between 22 May and 2 June at 20 universities in England. Details are available at www.startupmilkround.com.

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