Written by Lynn O'Byrne
Leeds Beckett: New partnership launched to boost sustainability of start-ups
Business experts at Leeds Beckett University have teamed up with marketing agency, GOLD79, in a new partnership to boost the long-term growth and sustainability of start-up businesses across the UK. A new programme – GOLD79 MINE – has been launched as a collaboration between Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett and GOLD79. The programme will support talented and entrepreneurial individuals – including students and graduates of the university – who want to start their own businesses through academic consultancy, expert business support services, mentoring, networking, business infrastructure and financial support.
Read more about the new programme on the Leeds Beckett website.
UWTSD: Welsh SME’s Address SDG16
At Learned Society of Wales’ Early Research Career Colloquium 2024, Bangor University, HES (Dr Felicity Healey-Benson and Professor David A Kirby) launched a bilingual booklet featuring 10 Welsh SMEs addressing SDG 16 through Harmonious Entrepreneurship.
Key Features:
- Diverse Welsh SMEs exemplifying Harmonious Entrepreneurship
- Alignment with global SDG 16 and Wales’ Well-being Goals
- Inspiring stories of Welsh ventures promoting peace activism
- Creative business models tackling social and environmental challenges
The booklet is a resource for businesses, educators, students, and policymakers, showcasing ethical and sustainable practices. HES extends gratitude to its distinguished foreword contributors. Cymraeg English
MTU: HEI Green Champions
We are searching for HEI green champions in institutions that would like to test the indicators of the GET-AHED sustainability self-assessment tool sometime between mid-September and mid-October – online and totally flexibly with a total duration of around 20-40 minutes. Interested institutions are invited to reach out to get-ahed@wpz-research.com for further information. More information on the project can be found here and you can sign up for our newsletter here.
ARU: Social Spark x Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy: Empowering Future Social Entrepreneurs
Since September 2023, Social Spark provided ARU students the opportunity to contribute to creating a healthier and more equitable future for people in Basildon. Partnering with Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, this initiative tackled pressing health and care challenges faced by the local community. Students supported by the Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy have embraced the chance to create social enterprises focused on family nutrition, art-based wellbeing, and more. Through workshops, mentoring, and valuable connections, they have developed innovative ideas with real social impact. The initiative concluded with a big celebration in June 2024 by showcasing the students’ ingenious contributions.
LJMU: Startup Team Celebrates 20 years of supporting entrepreneurs
LJMU’s offer for student entrepreneurs began in 2004 with ambitious plans to create viable start up companies. This has always been the objective of the team, which sits outside the curriculum but the heart of the student experience at LJMU. Now operating as the Start-Up Hub, the team celebrated this important milestone by inviting 20 entrepreneurs to tell their stories. The resulting publication can be found here. Tom Strodtbeck, LJMU’s Entrepreneurship Consultant commented: “LJMU continues to produce an incredible array of entrepreneurs, working in the arts, sciences, professional services and more. And as most of our entrepreneurs set up businesses in the Liverpool City Region, we will see both their economic and social impact, as they grow into the next generation of civic leaders.”
MMU: Associate Member Publishes Paper
This international systematic literature is relevant to EEUK members because it includes findings from around the world on the link between different types of mentoring in higher education and student career development including for example, entrepreneurial skills, intentions, engagement and business start-up survival. Nabi, G., Walmsley, A., Mir, M. & Osman, S. (2024): The impact of mentoring in higher education on student career development: a systematic review and research agenda. Studies in Higher Education. Early release. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2354894
Northumbria: Global Survey on Academic Work
EEUK Director, Vicky Mountford-Brown is working as part of a global research group led by Professor Inger Mewburn, Director of Researcher Development at The Australian National University and perhaps more famously known as ‘The Thesis Whisperer’ https://thesiswhisperer.com/ The group are exploring academic work and hoping to get a strong global representation in the responses. Please consider completing this survey and passing on to others in your networks within and beyond ISBE: https://anu.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eEeXg1L3RZJJWce
Nottingham: Double your Price
Professor David Falzani of Nottingham University Business School has had his book, Double Your Price, shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious Business Book of the Year Award 2024. Grounded in 25 years’ experience of training, mentoring, starting and growing companies, the book addressees the emotional turmoil managers feel when faced with the all-important pricing decisions. With a foreword written by Lord Sainsbury, the book includes key tools and a range of 10 exercises for business managers, owners, students, and entrepreneurs looking to enhance their pricing strategies and foster a value-seeking culture. The winning book will be announced in September.
Exeter celebrates student entrepreneurs at annual awards
The University of Exeter celebrated another successful year of student startups and innovation at the Student Entrepreneurship Awards. The event celebrated student entrepreneurship activities delivered across the University, including the Student Startups programmes, the With Proficiency in Entrepreneurship degree pathway and the Engineering and Entrepreneurship degree programme. Six exceptional individuals were recognised for their achievements on the Student Startups programmes this year. Attendees also heard from student, Mattia Vancini, who won an award at last year’s event and gave a keynote speech sharing his journey exploring entrepreneurship. Read more.
Durham: New National Social Enterprise Competition for Students & Graduates
Durham University has partnered with the Ford Family Foundation to launch Ignite, a new funding competition supporting social enterprises emerging from higher education. Ignite aims to shine a spotlight on our tremendous social entrepreneurs and will culminate in a pitching event at The Shard in October. The winner will receive a £20,000 grant, with a further £30,000 shared between four other contenders. In addition to funding, prizes also include 1:1 coaching from Cambio Consultancy and I.P. support from Mathys & Squire. Deadline for entries has been extended until 31st July via the Ignite website