Aston University lands entreprenuers conference
ASTON University has pulled off a major coup by being selected to host the 2012 National Student Enterprise Conference.
The conference brings together young budding entrepreneurs and encourages the development of business skills with guidance from top business professionals and celebrity entrepreneurs.
The 2012 bid, co-ordinated by Aston Business School and Aston Entrepreneurs, was ultimately successful after impressing judges of the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs.
The bid demonstrated its support for students and regional businesses through a number of initiatives, including Aston Idol, which lets students pitch their business ideas to a panel of national and regional business representatives.
The university’s involvement in the business start-up programme BSEEN (Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network) was also seen as important.
BSEEN, funded by Birmingham City Council, provides support for more than 100 graduate entrepreneurs from the West Midlands region. This includes opportunities to access extensive mentoring, free office space and business grants to help with start-up initiatives.
Aston is also involved in The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the largest survey-based study of entrepreneurship in the world involving over 60 countries.
Dr Patrick Tissington, Associate Dean of Business Partnerships; Kelly-Anne Lewis, Director of Marketing and Nathalie Lam, Business Partnerships Co-ordinator from Aston Business School were involved in the successful bid, alongside Samuel Wilson, president of Aston Entrepreneurs.
Dr Tissington said: “Aston University’s ethos is to ensure students graduate with strong academic skills alongside opportunities to develop real life business acumen. This knowledge combined with practical real life experience provides students with a new set of insights into entrepreneurship and business as a whole. We are delighted to be hosting this prestigious event next year.”
The approach has seen Aston graduate Nick Holzherr awarded Birmingham Young Professional of the Year – Enterprise, while fellow graduate, Mike Bandar has created web-based company My Health Cards, which aims to increase the awareness and ease the lives of allergy sufferers.
The Aston Entrepreneurs Society, which started in 2009, helps develop business skills among students and fosters links to industry. The society is aiming to increase its active membership from 186 to around 500 by the end of next year.
The NSEC will take place February 18-19 next year.
