UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 07 FEBRUARY 2013
The Concept Factory, a new ‘thinking space’ for enterprising students and graduates has been launched by Birmingham City University.
Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University, Professor Cliff Allan, unveiled the enterprise zone to a selected list of attendees including successful business owners, proactive enterprising students and graduates.
Guest speakers at the event were made up of students and alumni of Birmingham City University, which included alumni Daniela Genas, Founder and CEO of Aspire4u, an events management company which has helped over 500 young people by providing work experience, training and volunteer opportunities.
Recent graduate Hilda Burke formed HBBA Corporate Business Services Ltd, which specialise in tailor made Bookkeeping & Accounting solutions for businesses, whilst still studying for her Accounting and Finance degree at Birmingham City University. Hilda is now looking into a training school to help place accountancy and finance students in local businesses.
Current Media and Communications student Jason Turner also gave a talk on how he founded social enterprise, iSore media, as a result of his past as an intermittent drug user over 22 years. iSore Media produces video training workshops for drug rehabilitation support groups.
The Concept Factory will act as a ‘hub’ for entrepreneurial activity and a thinking space for likeminded enterprising students and graduates to network, share ideas and form collaborations. The space will be given over to the students, like Jason Turner, to allow them to use it for a range of professional needs including business meetings, presentations and brainstorming sessions.
Ron Brown, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Manager at the University said; “The Concept Factory is available for any student, from any faculty, studying any subject to use, as a good idea can come from anyone.
“We are keen to work with students like Jason to further strengthen what he has created with iSore media; to encourage those that are starting on their business journey and to support our graduates like Daniella and Hilda.”
It is hoped that this initiative will help to pave the way for a new generation of entrepreneurs by providing some of the key elements that go into business start-up including advice, mentor support, free training workshops, programmes and networking events.
Research Innovation and Enterprise (RIE), Birmingham City University has a dedicated team on hand to continue its commitment in nurturing the enterprise skills of students and graduates. For more information on The Concept Factory contact the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team on 0121 331 5252 or email enterprise@bcu.ac.uk