Member Article

Global Entrepreneurship Week hailed a huge success

Coventry University’s Global Entrepreneurship Week has been hailed a huge success after hundreds of students, graduates and staff showcased their enterprising talents.

The world’s largest celebration of entrepreneurship is held each year to inspire more people to start their own businesses and turn their innovative ideas into reality.

The city joined others from 115 countries to take part in Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014 with Coventry University’s Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship organising a host of events, competitions and workshops ranging from Idea on a Beer Mat to attending a Mentor on the Move session for those interested in social enterprise.

Thirty-five students presented two-minute business pitches in the Phoenix Den competition with Zsolt Ban receiving £750, Slawomir Marczak earning the second prize of £500 and Laurent Binet collecting the third prize of £250.

Akshay Thakrar won the SPEED Plus Project Award 2014 which involved presenting to a tough panel reasons why his business deserved more funding with Ajom Khan finishing a close second.

Elecia Du-Bisset was the winner among hundreds of entries in the Idea on a Beer Mat competition which saw her win £250 for submitting her business idea on a beer mat in a few sentences.

Serial entrepreneur BJ Cunningham, who runs the luxury shoe design business Georgina Goodman, presented the week’s awards in front of a 70-strong audience at the Coventry Transport Museum.

Mairead Douglas, of the Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship at Coventry University, said the five days of activities were designed to introduce students, graduates and staff to new possibilities and exciting opportunities in the business world.

“This is an annual initiative to bring together people who have fantastic entrepreneurial spirit and business and social enterprise ideas,” she said.

“It was a week jam-packed with activities which were centred on helping students, alumni and staff to be inspired to take their business idea or start-up company to the next level.

“We had fun, thought-provoking workshops, drop-in sessions, information about funding and a chance to win a cash prize after presenting in front of our panel of experts so there were plenty of different ways to be involved throughout the Coventry University campus and the new Enterprise Hub in Jordan Well.

“The standard of ideas was extremely impressive and we hope by connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, potential collaborators and investors that Global Entrepreneurship Week has encouraged the next generation of businessmen and women.

“Entrepreneurship is extremely important in driving forward our economy and there is plenty of advice and information available for those who are interested in becoming their own boss.

“In the Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship, this is always one of our major events each year to help people reach business goals which are achievable and the feedback to this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week has once again been really positive.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .