Entrepreneur’s tips for students as University enterprise centre takes off
Posted on 25 April 2007
Richard Harpin, founder of the global Homeserve organisation, which now employs more than 4000 people, was guest at the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Enterprise (CETLE). Graduating in Economics in 1986, he recalled that he ran his first business as a student at York - a short-lived, but profitable, enterprise selling earrings made from fly-fishing materials. He told an audience, including the Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor, staff, students and representatives from a range of business organisations, how it had given him a taste for future ventures, though not dependent on 80s fashion fads!
The desire to be entrepreneurial and enterprising has grown up amongst our students and has become a real motivating force.
Professor Brian Cantor
Richard Harpin even provided a flight around campus in his helicopter for the three winners of an impromptu Dragons’ Den-style competition.
Professor Cantor said: "The desire to be entrepreneurial and enterprising has grown up amongst our students and has become a real motivating force, providing a great opportunity for the future".
The Centre at the University of York is part of a substantial grant from HEFCE to the three White Rose Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. The CETLE enables students to develop enterprise skills so that they are equipped to make an impact in the future as social entrepreneurs, enterprising employees and successful business owners.
As well as working with staff and students to include enterprise in normal degree programmes, the CETLE has enabled the University to develop an Enterprise Zone in Vanbrugh College. The heart of the Enterprise Zone is a ‘Micro-Incubator’ which has space and facilities to support student start-up companies.
Each Incubator ‘cell’ has a PC, big screen for presentations and meetings as well as video-conferencing facilities. Students are surrounded by other start-up businesses all able to offer support and services.
The CETLE has played a leading role in the formation of York Entrepreneurs Club, now one of the largest student societies on campus with over 500 members. The Club promotes the idea of enterprise through competitions such as ‘The York Apprentice’ and through its Enterprise Guide website. Club members also run businesses from the CETLE, including York Proms, this summer’s premier outdoor live music event in York.
Notes to editors:
- The CETLE provides innovative teaching and learning spaces across campus. Equipped with the latest hardware and software, the CETLE offers students and staff alike the space and facility to be creative, enterprising and productive.
- The Enterprise Zone in Vanbrugh C block is the main CETLE facility and features a range of digital and electronic equipment.There are satellite enterprise zones in the JB Morrell Library, Derwent College and Wentworth Graduate College. Each provides group working space for staff and students along with the similar hardware and software.
- The CETLE offers grants to academic member of staff to support the development of teaching and learning materials to develop enterprise knowledge and skills within the existing curriculum. The emphasis of all project proposals must be the introduction of enterprise or entrepreneurship into an academic module(s) that will be taught annually.