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UNIPRENEUR CHALLENGE. Tony Shannon-Little 27 June 2012. WHAT & WHY?. scheme to promote and develop entrepreneurial skills for students, develop relationships with businesses in the region, boost enterprise and create potential employment opportunities.
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UNIPRENEUR CHALLENGE Tony Shannon-Little 27 June 2012
WHAT & WHY? • scheme to promote and develop entrepreneurial skills for students, develop relationships with businesses in the region, boost enterprise and create potential employment opportunities. • Students identify and present to the business stakeholders a practicable way of adding value
WHO? • Any volunteer LSSC students in groups of 3 • 2 sets so far (Feb/Mar + June) – 15-18 in a set • Delivered by external consultant Gary Lennon (SPEED consultant) and associates. • Interested organisations, contacted by GL. e.g. • Talbots Solicitors • Beacon Centre for the Blind • Accord Housing Group
HOW? • E-scan (competence, attitudes, thinking styles) • 5x 3 hour workshops • Contact with organisations (supported) 4 weeks. • Analysis of ways to add value • Presentation to organisation and feedback • Judging Panel event • Award Ceremony • Follow-up E-scan
WHAT IS IN THE WORKSHOPS? • Understanding your own entrepreneurial profile • Understanding the work environment and stakeholders: how to conduct analysis • Innovating – creativity plus realism to add value • Working in a team, under pressure • Presenting your proposition and reacting to feedback
HOW DID STUDENTS BENEFIT? • “The Unipreneur Challenge is a brilliant platform helping me to build upon my strengths and develop new skills. Most importantly it has enabled me to network with like-minded people and build professional relationships with them. I am now more determined than ever to go after my dreams, and actually own my business.” Katrina Calvin – Participating student • Real challenge – results-driven • Time-constrained • Showcasing talents • Developmental
HOW DID Cos REACT? • “I felt that they performed well on all levels and there is nothing that I could offer by way of constructive comment. As three strangers coming together, to work in an unknown and daunting legal environment they get immense praise from me. The feedback I have had from colleagues has been similarly positive. I invited 3 others to sit in on the presentation and they too were very impressed and felt they would be a good example to our own teams.” Derek Simmonds, Partner, Quality Simmonds Talbots - Participating Business
HOW DO Cos BENEFIT? Focused intensive attention on new opportunities, sometimes with unexpected outcomes No-commitment trialling of potential employees Closer links with university for future collaboration
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED? 2 students were offered jobs 2 students won Intuit 100Up awards All invited to implement their propositions All 5 businesses will support further Unipreneur Challenges All students reported increased confidence, focus and entrepreneurial skills / mindset Several students will develop business ideas, directly as a result of participation.
WHAT NEXT? Further sets (Autumn + Winter) Entrepreneurs networking Possible expansion beyond LSSC Wider community engagement Panel + Awards 4th July!
THANK YOU! Tony Shannon-Little 27 June 2012